BIOGRAPHICAL  SKETCHES 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE. 

GENERAL  DUNCAN  McARTHUR, 
CAPTAIN  WILLIAM   WELLS, 

AND 

GENERAL    SIMON     KENTON: 

WHO  WERE  EARLY  SETTLERS  IN  THE  WESTERN  COUNTRY. 

BY  JOHN  MCDONALD, 

OF  POPLAR  RIDGE,  ROSS  COUNTY,  OHIO. 


DAYTON,    0.: 

PUBLISHED     AND     SOLD     BY     D.     OSBORN     &     SON. 
1852. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1838, 

BY  JOHN  MCDONALD, 

in  the  Clerk's  Office  for  the  District  Court  of  Ohio. 


PREFACE. 


P 

UJ 

Ix  presenting  the  reader  with  the  following  narratives  of  the  dis- 

r~    tinguished  men  whose  characters  are  attempted  to  be  delineated,  no 

d*    apology  is  deemed  necessary.     The  subject  is  one  in  which  all  men, 

•     who  love  to  see  portrayed  from  the  stump,  the  rise,  and  progressive 

improvements  of  our  country,  must  feel  a  lively  interest.     Is  there  a 

man  whose  feelings  are  so  obtuse,  as  not  to  follow  General  Massie  and 

«M    his  compatriots,  with  intense  anxiety,  through  the  wilderness,  sur- 

Ifl     veying  the  country,  and  forming  new  settlements  in  the  midst  of 

^    dangers  and  difficulties  the  most  appalling  1  if  such  there  be,  I  envy 

•H    him  not  his  insensible  stupidity. 

The  defects  in  the  composition,  none  will  more  sincerely  deplore 
than  myself;  and  I  regret,  more  than  any  other  can,  that  my  attain- 
_•      ments  as  an  author  are  not  more  fully  equal  to  the  subjects  on  which 
O      I  have  treated. 

I  have  endured  more  pain,  from  diffidence  and  even  timidity,  in 

p       presenting  myself  to  the  public  as  an  author,  than  I  have  suffered 

from  fear  in  the  most  dangerous  situation.     It  must  appear  novel  to 

-?,       see  a  man  over  sixty  years  of  age,  without  any  of  the  advantages  of 

£3       education,  having  but  little  leisure,  and  always  hard  pressed  to  se- 

<5        cure  a  living,  turn  his  attention  to  the  labor  of  composition  in  the 

evening  of  life.     Under  these  disadvantageous  circumstances,  little 

eclat  is  expected ;  if  humble  mediocrity  is  allowed  I  will  be  content. 

I  took  up  my  pen  to  rescue  from  oblivion  the  names  of  men  who 

"  have  done  some  service  to  the  state." 

In  this  age  of  enterprise  and  intellectual  improvement,  shall  it  be 
said  by  posterity,  that,  while  the  bones  of  our  pioneer  fathers  are 

iii 


IV  PREFACE. 

mouldering  into  dust,  no  record  of  their  useful  labors  shall  be  pre- 
served to  perpetuate  their  memories  ]  "  The  man  dies,  but  his  me- 
mory should  live." 

There  are  certain  epochs  in  the  history  of  every  country  which 
indissolubly  fix  themselves  in  the  memory  of  its  inhabitants,  from 
generation  to  generation.  The  war  for  independence,  and  the  first 
settling  of  the  western  country  being  simultaneous,  these  were  the 
starting  points,  from  which  we  date  our  national  existence.  The 
brilliant  achievements  performed  by  our  forefathers  to  effect  these 
memorable  objects  appear  to  have  formed  the  critical  ERA,  on  which 
long  hung,  in  doubtful  suspense,  the  destiny  of  these  United  States. 
It  will  be  admitted  by  all,  that  the  old  Indian  war  was  a  continuation 
of  the  war  of  the  Revolution.  And,  as  Thomas  Paine  eloquently 
said  in  his  Crisis,  "  these  are  the  times  that  try  men's  souls ;  the 
summer  soldier  and  the  sunshine  patriot  will  in  this  crisis  shrink 
from  the  service  of  his  country — but  he  that  stands  it  out  now  de- 
serves the  love  and  thanks  of  man  and  woman." 

In  many  scenes  of  the  grand  drama,  were  tragedies  performed 
which,  for  boldness  and  sublimity  of  execution,  throw  romance  into 
shade.  The  names  and  characters  of  some  of  the  actors  have  found 
a  place  in  the  history  of  the  country — but  of  many,  very  many,  who 
in  that  crisis  performed  brilliant  exploits,  the  names  and  memories 
are  lost  forever ;  whilst  the  names  of  others  are  only  remembered  in 
lingering,  changeful,  traditionary  legends. 

In  attempting  to  describe  the  awful  catastrophes  and  frightful 
combats  which  took  place  on  the  western  frontier,  we  sometimes 
meet  incidents  to  which  language  is  not  equal.  "  The  conception  is 
too  bulky  to  be  born  alive,  and  in  the  struggle  for  expression  every 
finger  tries  to  be  a  tongue."  When  we  reflect  on  the  bold  assaults, 
or  the  ingenious,  masterly  retreats  of  the  old  frontier-men — the 
patient  fortitude  with  which  they  endured  fatigue  and  hunger — it  is 
evident,  that  man  little  knows  till  he  is  tried  in  the  school  of  ad- 
versity what  calamities  and  hardships  are  beyond  his  endurance. 
The  dangers  from  their  enemies,  though  great,  were  only  an  item  in 
the  catalogue  of  their  sufferings.  They  had  to  travel  through  thick 
woods  without  road  or  path,  scratched  with  briars,  stung  by  nettles, 
or  torn  by  thorns.  When  night  approached,  no  shelter  to  protect 
them  from  the  "  pitiless  pelting  of  the  storm,"  or  comfortable 
couch  on  which  to  repose  their  weary  limbs ;  the  moist  earth  was 


PREFACE.  V 

their  bed,  the  firmament  of  heaven  their  covering ;  tormented  with 
gnats  and  musquitoes,  their  nights  were  sleepless ;  when  morning 
light  returned,  their  cares  and  watchfulness  were  resumed,  to  guard 
against  the  danger  of  being  surprised  by  their  bold,  vigilant  and 
dexterous  enemy. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  period  is  almost  at  hand,  when  to 
speak  of  the  enterprising  men  who  first  settled  on  the  banks  of 
the  beautiful  river  Ohio,  from  personal  knowledge,  will  be  closed 
forever.  Who,  and  what  they  were,  and  what  they  accomplished, 
if  not  immediately  recorded,  can  shortly  be  known  only  as  tradition- 
ary legends.  To  cast  his  mite  of  information  on  this  subject,  to 
those  who  may  succeed  him,  is  the  principal  design  of  the  author. 

When  a  retrospective  glance  is  taken  of  the  path  pursued  by  the 
old  frontier-men,  and  the  difficulties  and  dangers  encountered  and 
overcome,  all  will  admit,  that  they  performed  their  fearful  duties  with 
a  firmness  unsurpassed  in  the  annals  of  history.  Many  of  them  bled 
under  the  tomahawk  of  the  red  men,  and  to  all  their  existence  was 
one  connected  period  of  toil,  privation,  and  watchfulness. 

Having  been  an  humble  actor  in  many  of  the  scenes  described, 
the  incidents  which  I  did  not  witness  were  communicated  by  the 
actors  shortly  after  the  events  took  place,  so  that  the  reader  can  place 
the  fullest  reliance  in  the  truth  of  the  narratives  related  in  the  fol- 
lowing pages. 

The  biography  of  General  Massie  I  had  published  in  the  Western 
Christian  Advocate  some  time  since;  and,  as  herewith  presented,  it 
has  been  revised  by  Henry  Massie,  (son  of  the  General,)  and  I  have 
no  doubt  is  much  improved  on  the  original  draft.  Perhaps  the  work 
would  have  pleased  better  had  his  friendly  pen  revised  the  other 
parts  of  the  volume. 

It  is  unnecessary  to  inform  the  reader  that  the  author  of  the  fol- 
lowing pages  makes  no  pretension  to  the  accomplishment  of  learn- 
ing— this  the  learned  reader  will  soon  discover.  My  early  life  was 
passed  with  hunters,  boatmen,  and  soldiers,  where  there  were  but 
rare  opportunities  of  associating  with  men  of  learning,  or  polite  ac- 
quirements. I  have  the  most  humble  opinion  of  my  literary  abilities ; 
and  when  I  engaged  in  writing  and  publishing  in  the  newspapers 
sketches  of  the  lives  of  some  of  the  old  backwoodsmen,  with  whose 
history  I  was  well  acquainted,  it  was  without  the  most  distant  idea 
of  writing  a  book.  The  approbation  with  which  my  narratives  ap- 


VI  PREFACE. 

pear  to  have  been  received  by  the  public,  together  with  the  solicita- 
tion of  some  of  my  friends,  has  induced  me  to  adopt  my  present 
course. 

Having  endeavored  to  present  the  reader  with  the  manners  and 
customs  of  the  old  frontier-men,  together  with  some  interesting 
events  which  will  aid  the  historian  of  some  future  day,  in  delineating 
the  character  of  the  early  settlers  as  well  as  the  early  history  of  the 
western  country,  I  now  take  my  leave  of  the  subject. 

JOHN  MCDONALD, 

Of  Poplar  Ridge,  Boss  County,  Ohio. 


A    SKETCH    OF    THE   LIFE 


OF 


GENERAL  NATHANIEL  MASSIE. 


CHAPTER  I. 

THE  life  of  every  man,  of  any  distinction,  is  intimate- 
ly connected  with  many  of  the  events  that  compose  the 
general  history  of  his  country.  It  is  by  his  connection 
with  those  events  he  is  made  to  display  his  character, 
and  derive  from  his  companions  whatever  reputation  he 
may  merit.  Nor  can  we,  in  writing  the  biography  of 
such  a  man,  strictly  confine  ourselves  to  the  immediate 
occurrences  of  his  own  time ;  but  we  must  be  permitted 
to  look  back  a  little,  and  form  a  connected  chain  of 
events,  in  order  to  make  plain  what  would  otherwise  ap- 
pear obscure,  and  give  a  just  importance  to  events 
which  would  not  otherwise  seem  to  merit  attention. 
These  are  the  reasons  I  beg  leave  to  urge  as  an  apology 
for  the  following  digression. 

A  short  time  previous  to,  and  about  the  time  the  Re- 
volutionary struggle  commenced,  the  attention  of  the 
citizens  of  Virginia  was  drawn  to  the  Kentucky  terri- 
tory ;  which  was,  at  that  time,  and  for  many  years  after- 
wards, the  western  portion  of  that  state.  This  attention 
was  produced  by  some  hardy  hunters  of  the  mountains, 
who  accustomed  to  danger,  and  always  seeking  some 
new  and  exciting  field  of  enterprize,  passed  far  beyond 
the  pale  of  civilization,  and  pushed  their  discoveries  in 
the  rich  bosom  of  Kentucky.  Returning  to  the  settle- 

7 


8  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

raents,  the  fame  of  the  exuberant  richness  of  the  soil 
was  spread  throughout  the  land.  They  told,  that  they- 
had  passed  beyond  the  wide  chain  of  mountains,  that 
composed,  at  that  time,  the  middle  portion  of  Virginia, 
and  had  reached  the  valley  beyond,  and  found  a  beauti- 
fully rolling  country,  covered  by  a  dense  forest  of  large 
trees,  the  ground  beneath  them  carpeted  by  the  luxuriant 
growth  of  waving  cane,  and  that  the  soil  was  rich  be- 
yond any  they  ever  beheld.  Besides  all  this,  what  gave 
the  greatest  joy  to  the  hunter,  was  the  fact,  that  game 
of  different  kinds  abounded  in  profusion  ;  so  much  so, 
that  the  Indian  tribes,  from  different  portions  of  the  West, 
had  from  time  immemorial  contested,  in  long  and  bloody 
battles,  the  occupancy  of  the  soil,  during  the  hunting 
season  ;  and,  on  this  account,  the  country  was  known 
among  the  Indians  by  the  name  of  Kentucky,  "  the  dark 
and  bloody  ground." 

Such  glowing  descriptions,  in  spite  of  the  many  and 
embarrassing  difficulties  under  which  Virginia,  at  that 
time,  labored,  soon  excited  the  activity  of  many  of  her 
citizens.  That  state  owned  an  immense  landed  territory, 
and  had  always  been  extensively  liberal  in  its  disposal. 
The  legislature  foresaw,  that  the  only  mode  to  accom- 
plish the  early  settlement  of  their  vast  unappropriated 
lands,  was  to  be  effected  by  the  liberal  encouragement 
to  settlers  ;  and,  by  an  act  for  that  purpose,  every  one, 
who  made  a  settlement  by  clearing  a  spot  of  ground, 
erecting  a  cabin,  and  raising  a  crop  of  corn,  on  such 
lands,  was  entitled  to  four  hundred  acres  of  land,  includ- 
ing the  settlement,  and  the  preemption  right  to  one  thou- 
•sand  acres  adjoining  thereto.  The  settlement  claims 
were  bounties  given  to  settlers  by  the  state  ;  the  pre- 
emption claims  were  rights  given  by  the  state  to  the 
settlers,  to  purchase  before  others  and  appropriate  one 
thousand  acres  adjoining  their  settlements.  These  claims 
to  land,  in  Kentucky,  were  of  high  standing  and  much 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  9 

respected,  and  generally  prevailed  beyond  other  claims, 
when  difficulties  did  not  arise  about  the  location  of  them. 
A  large  portion  of  the  state  was  quickly  settled  by  this 
liberal  encouragement  extended  to  settlers ;  yet  a  very 
short  time  was  allowed  to  them.  The  unbounded  rage 
for  the  acquisition  of  western  lands  seized  the  specula- 
tors, and  the  greater  portion  of  the  country  was  soon 
more  than  doubly  appropriated  by  the  military  and  trea- 
sury warrants,  issued  in  almost  as  large  quantities  by 
Virginia,  as  continental  paper. 

The  wretched  "  every  one  for  himself"  system  of  loca- 
ting lands,  at  that  time,  gave  rise  to  more  than  thirty 
years  continued  litigation  of  the  land  claims.  So  much, 
indeed,  were  they  entangled,  that  in  their  adjustment, 
more  brilliancy  of  talent  was  displayed,  and  more  ab- 
struse learning  brought  forward  and  applied,  than  it  could 
well  be  conceived  possible  such  a  subject  could  originate. 
Happily,  however,  for  the  country,  the  rules  of  our  laws, 
when  applied  by  great  and  discriminating  minds,  are 
rules  of  reason,  and  when  directed  steadily  to  some 
great  end  connected  with  human  transactions,  will  finally 
overcome  all  difficulties,  and  accomplish  the  desired  ob- 
ject. In  Kentucky,  a  system  of  land  law  was  soon 
erected,  abstruse  indeed,  but  founded  in  justice,  as  it 
soon  relieved  their  entangled  and  much  litigated  titles. 
But  to  return. 

For  several  years  after  the  Kentucky  territory  was 
explored,  many  difficulties  were  encountered  in  making 
permanent  settlements.  The  settlers  were  placed,  as  it 
were,  in  a  gauntlet,  continually  exposed  to  the  inroads 
of  the  Indians  from  the  northwest  of  the  Ohio,  and  also 
from  the  tribes  that  bordered  the  southern  part  of  Ken- 
tucky. These  different  tribes  of  Indians  meeting  yearly, 
during  their  hunting  and  war  season,  found  the  country 
possessed  by  the  whites,  who  were  looked  upon  by 
them  as  a  common  enemy,  who,  they  justly  suspected, 


«10  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

had  come  to  rob  them  of  their  possessions.  Animated 
by  the  wrong  which  was  about  to  be  done  them,  and  also 
by  the  thought  that  they  were  contending  for  the  country, 
which  had  been  the  glorious  field  of  the  warlike  exploits 
of  their  chiefs  and  warriors,  they  fought  with  that  bra- 
very which  borders  on  despair.  For  these  reasons,  their 
warfare  with  the  whites  was  of  an  exterminating  charac- 
ter on  both  sides,  and  the  scenes  of  bloodshed  that  en- 
sued were  most  terrific.  Another  great  difficulty,  under 
which  the  settlers  labored,  was  the  distance  they  were 
removed  from  the  settlements.  Supplies  of  absolute 
necessaries  were  not  easily  transported  so  great  a  dis- 
tance, as  no  roads  were  then  known,  and  the  only  mode 
of  transportation  was  the  pack-horse,  and  the  only  guide 
the  compass  and  the  experience  of  the  woodman.  Un- 
fortunately, at  that  time,  no  remedy  could  be  applied  to 
remove  these  difficulties,  as  Virginia  with  the  other  col- 
onies were,  at  that  time,  engaged  in  the  arduous  struggle 
for  Independence,  and  no  protection  could,  as  heretofore, 
be  afforded  to  the  settlers  by  troops  levied  for  the  fron- 
tier service. 

Under  these  and  many  other  difficulties,  the  pioneers 
of  an  early  day  labored.  Is  it  not  surprising  that  the 
settlement  of  the  country  should  have  continued  to  pro- 
gress ?  Every  returning  messenger,  too,  from  the  new 
to  the  old  country,  had  scenes  of  horror  to  relate  of  the 
stealthy  incursions  of  the  savages,  their  deadly  hatred 
to  the  whites,  and  their  indiscriminate  and  inhuman 
butcheries  of  them.  The  thoughts  of  such  things  did 
not  discourage  the  pioneers.  On  the  contrary,  the  tide 
of  emigration,  year  after  year,  began  to  swell  in  larger 
and  more  regular  streams,  and  the  inhabitants  soon 
commenced  a  system  of  offensive,  as  well  as  defensive, 
operations.  Hitherto,  the  hunters  and  surveyors  had 
adopted,  from  necessity,  the  roving  habits,  the  cunning, 
and  hardihood  of  the  savages,  and  had  carried  on  with 


GENERAL   NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  11 

them  a  desultory  warfare,  in  which  innumerable  instances 
of  personal  bravery  were  displayed,  that  showed  them 
to  be  men  of  more  than  Spartan  courage.  Many  sad 
lessons,  however,  had  taught  the  settlers  that  their  only 
means  of  safety  could  be  afforded  by  combinations  of 
the  inhabitants.  At  their  stations,  they,  therefore,  con- 
structed block-houses  and  walls  built  of  trees,  as  they 
were  found  to  be  the  most  secure  method  of  defence,  and 
always  afforded  a  place  of  retreat  from  danger.  In  these 
stations  were  placed  the  wives,  the  children,  and  the 
moveable  goods  of  the  settlers,  and  a  sufficiency  of  land 
in  the  immediate  vicinity  was  cleared  and  cultivated  to 
raise  the  necessaries  of  life.  The  men,  during  the  greater 
part  of  the  year,  were  busily  employed  in  locating  and 
surveying  land. 

This  subject  is  so  absorbing  as  to  have  carried  me  be- 
yond my  intention.  It  is  impossible,  indeed,  to  reflect 
on  the  early  settlement  of  Kentucky  without  being 
deeply  impressed  with  interest  in  its  varied  scenes,  and, 
at  the  same  time,  made  to  feel  an  almost  unbounded  ad- 
miration of  the  character  of  its  early  inhabitants.  Enter- 
prize  and  courage  gave  to  each  one  the  knowledge  of 
his  own  capacity,  while  sincere  friendship,  strict  confi- 
dence, and  mutual  dependence  in  times  of  danger  cemen- 
ted them  together  like  a  band  of  brothers.  They  lived  at 
a  time,  when  those  manly  and  ennobling  qualities  were 
necessary  for  their  well-being,  and  a  continuation  of 
these  qualities  among  their  descendants,  have  rendered 
them  celebrated,  in  our  land,  for  their  open  and  manly 
bearing  and  other  qualities  connected  with  true  courage. 

I  have  made  the  above  remarks,  in  order  to  connect 
them  with  the  subject  of  this  biographical  sketch.  It 
was  at  an  interesting  period  of  the  settlement  of  Ken- 
tucky, that  he  entered  upon  the  active  duties  of  a  sur- 
veyor, and  to  a  man  of  capacity  in  that  business  an  im- 
mense field  of  enterprize  was  opened. 


12  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

General  Nathaniel  Massie  was  born,  in  Goochland 
county,  Virginia,  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  1763. 
He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Maj.  Nathaniel  Massie  of  that 
county,  who  was  a  substantial  farmer  in  easy  circum- 
stances. The  Major  was  a  man  of  great  plainness,  in- 
dustry, and  good  practical  sense,  and  although  possessed 
of  means  sufficient,  he  chose  rather  to  give  his  sons  such 
educations  as  would  prepare  them  to  transact  the  com- 
mon business  of  life,  than  such  as  would  be  of  no  ser- 
vice to  them  in  the  employments  he  intended  them  to 
pursue.  Besides  all  this  he  had  a  large  family  of  chil- 
dren, and  acting  rather  contrary  to  the  old  Virginia  sys- 
tem, he  thought  it  better  for  his  sons,  that  at  an  early 
day  they  should  be  placed  in  a  situation  to  gain  their 
own  livelihood.  So  soon,  therefore,  as  they  completed 
their  educations,  he  permitted  them  to  select  whatever 
employment  they  preferred.  Nathaniel,  the  eldest  son, 
chose  for  his  occupation  to  learn  surveying,  and  go  to 
the  western  country,  which  at  that  time  held  out  great 
inducements  to  enterprizing  young  men.  Previously, 
however,  to  this,  at  the  early  age  of  seventeen  years 
(1780),  he  was  sent  by  his  father  as  a  substitute  for 
himself,  or  some  member  of  the  family,  in  the  draft  of 
soldiers,  made  about  that  time,  to  recruit  the  army  du- 
ring the  revolutionary  war.  What  length  of  time  he  re- 
mained, or  at  what  post  stationed,  is  not  known  to  the 
author.  The  fact  itself  shows  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  at  that  early  age  by  his  father,  and  the  excursion 
was  well  calculated  to  make  him  better  acquainted  with 
men  and  things,  and  it  is  highly  probable  gave  a  spring  to 
that  latent  ambition  which  distinguished  him  in  after  life 
as  a  man  of  uncommon  enterprize. 

After  his  return  home  from  the  army,  he  studied  sur- 
veying, and  made  himself  master  of  that  science.  In 
the  fall  of  the  year  1783,  in  his  nineteenth  year,  he  was 
prepared  to  set  out  in  the  world  on  his  own  footing.  He 


GENERAL   NATHANIEL    MA'SIE.  13 

has  been  described  by  an  intimate  acquaintance  of  his, 
who  saw  him  a  short  time  previous  to  his  departure  for 
the  West,  "  as  an  uncommonly  fine-looking  young  man. 
That  his  form  was  slender,  well  made,  and  muscular, 
and  was  calculated,  from  his  good  constitution  and  un- 
common activity,  to  endure  fatigue,  exposure,  and  priva- 
tions in  an  eminent  degree.  That  his  countenance  was 
open  and  expressive  of  great  energy  and  good  sense, 
and  well  suited  to  gain  favor  from  men  of  enterprize." 
His  father  furnished  him  with  a  horse  well  equipped, 
and  all  necessary  surveying  instruments.  A  small 
amount  of  treasury  warrants  were  also  placed  in  his 
care,  together  with  a  letter  of  recommendation  to  Gen. 
James  Wilkinson,  who  was,  at  that  time,  a  citizen  of 
Kentucky  country,  and  a  man  of  distinction. 

The  author,  as  he  is  personally  unacquainted  with  the 
early  history  of  General  Massie,  has  been  obliged  to  de- 
pend on  whatever  information  his  children  could  afford 
him,  which  was  but  little,  as  they  have  lived  far  away 
from  the  home  of  his  youth  and  family  connections. 
What  information  he  has  derived  from  them  of  him, 
while  in  Kentucky,  is  contained  in  some  old  letters, 
from  different  persons  to  him.  It  is  well  known,  how- 
ever, that  very  shortly  after  his  arrival  there  he  was  ac- 
tively engaged  in  locating  warrants  and  surveying  lands ; 
and  from  the  property  he  accumulated,  it  would  appear 
great  success  had  attended  his  industry.  An  extract 
from  a  letter  of  his  father,  of  an  early  date,  is  given  oo 
account  of  its  antiquity. 

"  Goochland,  Aug.  24,  1784. 

"  LOVING  SON  : — 1  received  yours,  per  Mr.  Under- 
wood, wherein  you  informed  me  that  you  were  in  good 
health  :  likewise  that  favored  by  Mr.  Parker,  dated  May 
25, 1784,  wherein  you  informed  me,  that  the  warrant  for 
two  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  was  joining  the  other 


14  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

warrant,  and  that  it  was  rather  dangerous  to  have  it 
surveyed.  I  am  glad  to  hear  that  it  is  the  best  quality, 
equal  to  James  river  low  grounds,"  &c. 

The  following  letter,  as  it  shows  the  manner  in  which 
surveying  was  conducted,  at  that  time,  is  worthy  of  an 
insertion. 

"  Hanging-fork,  April  26,  1786. 

"  DEAR  SIR  : — I  am,  at  this  time,  unable  to  come  over 
on  the  business  that  I  promised  you.  For  my  attend- 
ing the  surveys  it  will  not  make  the  least  difference,  as 
you  can  do  it  as  well  as  if  I  was  with  you.  I  wish  you 
to  divide  the  land  that  is  surveyed,  belonging  to  the 
Dutchmen,  and  survey  the  entries  that  lay  joining  of 
those  lands,  and  divide  the  entries  also.  Survey  that 
land  you  purchased  of  Captain  Owing,  and  survey  the 
one  thousand  and  five  hundred  acre  entry,  that  is  located 
at  Logan's  old  camp  on  Bird's  trace,  about  one  mile  from 
another  large  camp.  The  old  camp  was  made  on  the 
first  campaign,  in  the  year  '80,  and  the  other  the  next 
campaign.  I  wish  you  to  survey  the  entries  that  are  on 
the  heads  of  Grassy  creek,  in  the  name  of  Howard 
Lewis.  If  you  find  where  Creuss  was  buried  at  a  camp, 
you  can  easily  find  the  entries.  You  must  take  the  mark- 
ed way  from  the  camp  up  a  ridge,  westwardly  course, 
about  two  miles,  and  the  way  is  marked  all  the  way  of 
the  two  miles  with  a  tomahawk ;  and  then  you  will  turn 
down  a  hollow  to  your  left  hand,  until  you  cross  a  branch 
of  Grassy  creek,  and  you  will  see  some  stumps,  where 
there  has  been  some  fire-wood  cut,  on  the  east  side  of 
the  branch ;  and  continue  the  marked  way  the  same 
course,  perhaps  two  and  a  half  miles,  near  the  heads  of 
said  waters,  and  there  you  will  find  some  trees  marked, 
as  the  entry  calls  for,  on  the  west  side  of  the  black  oak, 
and  some  small  trees  marked  near  the  said  oak ;  and  you 
will  return  down  to  the  same  branch  to  the  creek,  and 


GENERAL   NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  15 

down  the  creek  to  the  fork,  and  cross  the  forks  and  go  a 
southeast  course  about  four  miles,  until  you  come  to  a 
creek  ;  then  up  said  creek  until  you  find  a  camp  on  said 
creek,  in  the  bottom,  where  you  will  see  trees  peeled, 
and  stumps,  and  an  old  camp,  and  there  is  Mr.  Howard 
Lewis's  entry  of  two  thousand  acres.  You  will  find  the 
beginning  about  fifty  rods  below  the  camp  in  a  buffalo 
trace,  on  an  ash  tree,  marked  M.  black  with  powder,  the 
mark  is  facing  down  the  creek  ;  I  peeled  the  bark  off 
with  my  knife ;  and  survey  Stephen's  above  Meam- 
ey's  and  Young's  preemption ;  and  that,  I  think,  will  be 
as  much  as  you  can  do  at  this  time.  Now,  my  good 
friend,  if  you  cannot  do  it,  pray  write  a  letter  to  me, 
and  direct  it  to  Mr.  Nagle,  in  Danville.  But  I  would  be 
glad  if  you  could  do  it,  and  I  will  give  you  five  pounds 
besides  your  fees.  Promise  your  chain  carriers  goods 
for  their  wages,  which  I  will  pay  on  your  return  ;  and 
am,  sir,  your  friend  and  humble  servant, 

"JOHN  MARTIN." 
"  Mr.  Nathaniel  Massie" 

Who  this  John  Martin  was  is  not  known,  but  this  let- 
ter of  instruction  to  Mr.  Massie  shows  him  to  have  been 
a  land  speculator  and  a  merchant.  I  have  introduced 
this  letter  to  show  the  necessity  of  a  surveyor's  being, 
what  is  termed,  a  woodsman,  and  also  the  manner  in 
which  surveyors'  fees  were  paid.  Mere  surveyors  had 
their  fees  regulated  by  law,  and  were  illy  paid  for  their 
trouble,  and  as  they  were  men  of  great  enterprize  and 
much  information  as  to  good  unappropriated  lands,  they 
soon  became  locators  of  land  on  the  shares.  The  loca- 
tors who  were  popular,  and  in  whom  confidence  could 
be  placed,  would  get  a  fourth,  a  third,  and,  sometimes, 
half,  when  locations  could  be  made  on  first  rate  land. 
Massie,  at  first,  acted  as  a  surveyor,  but  he  soon  dis- 
covered that  it  was  a  small  business,  and  that  the  pro- 
2 


16  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

fitable  land  business  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  locators. 
As  he  was  young  and  extremely  active,  and  one  of  the  best 
footmen  in  the  West,  he  soon  became  an  expert  woods- 
man, to  be  which  was  an  indispensable  qualification  of 
a  land  locator,  as  the  country  was  then  an  entire  and  un- 
broken wilderness.  No  roads,  or  even  paths,  led  from 
one  part  to  the  other ;  and  besides  these  difficulties,  the 
restless  Indians  were  continually  on  the  alert  to  surprise 
and  cut  off  surveying  parties.  The  surveyors,  too,  had 
to  explore  the  country,  in  order  to  find  the  most  fertile 
lands,  and  in  doing  this  they  were  obliged  to  traverse 
the  woods  in  every  direction,  guess  at  courses,  and  judge 
of  distances.  Young  Massie  soon  became  an  expert  sur- 
veyor, and  it  was  a  matter  of  astonishment,  (as  he  was 
raised  in  the  dense  population  east  of  the  mountains) 
how  soon  he  acquired  the  science  and  habits  of  the  back- 
woodsmen. Although  he  never  practised  the  art  of 
hunting,  he  was  admitted  by  all,  who  knew  his  qualifi- 
cations as  a  woodsman,  to  be  of  the  first  order.  He 
could  steer  his  course  truly  in  clear  or  cloudy  weather, 
and  compute  distances  more  correctly  than  most  of  the 
old  hunters.  He  could  endure  fatigue  and  hunger,  with 
more  composure  than  the  most  of  those  persons  who 
were  inured  to  want  on  the  frontier.  He  could  live  upon 
meat  without  bread,  and  bread  without  meat,  and  was 
perfectly  cheerful  and  contented  with  his  fare.  In  all  the 
perilous  situations  in  which  he  was  placed,  he  was  al- 
ways conspicuous  for  his  good  feeling  and  the  happy 
temperament  of  his  mind.  His  courage  was  of  a  cool 
and  dispassionate  character,  which  added  to  great  cir- 
cumspection in  times  of  danger,  gave  him  a  complete 
ascendancy  over  his  companions,  who  were  always  will- 
ing to  follow  when  Massie  led  the  way. 

The  field  of  young  Massie's  activity  seems  not  to 
have  been  confined,  during  this  period,  to  the  business 
of  locating  and  surveying  lands.  In  the  fall  of  1786, 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  17 

we  find  him  interested  with  Gen.  James  Wilkinson  in 
speculations  in  salt,  which  on  account  of  its  scarcity, 
and  the  absolute  necessity  of  the  article,  rendered  it  very 
valuable.  There  were  then  few  places  in  the  western 
country,  where  salt  could  be  made  to  any  advantage.  The 
art  of  boring  for  salt  water  was  then  unknown,  and  the 
few  places  where  salt  was  made,  were  where  the  water 
rose  to  the  level  of  the  earth,  which  from  its  great 
mixture  with  fresh  water,  generally  required  eight  hun- 
dred or  a  thousand  gallons  of  the  water  to  make  fifty 
pounds  or  a  bushel  of  salt,  which  sold  for  two  to  five 
dollars,  per  bushel.  The  principal  manufactories  in 
Kentucky,  were  Bullitt's  and  Mann's  licks  near  Louis- 
ville, from  which  the  inhabitants  of  the  West  were  scan- 
tily supplied  at  an  enormous  price.  From  two  old  let- 
ters from  Gen.  Wilkinson  to  Massie,  which  are  inserted 
below,  we  learn  that  Massie  was  about  to  start  for  Nash- 
ville, on  the  Cumberland  river,  with  a  barge  load  of  salt. 
Gen.  Wilkinson,  as  the  senior  partner,  directed  the  affairs 
of  the  firm,  and,  from  his  letters  of  instruction  to  Massie, 
shows  his  remarkable  cunning,  and  the  means  employed, 
at  that  day,  to  keep  from  being  overreached.  The  Gen- 
eral, at  that  time,  was  one  of  the  largest  dealers  of  mer- 
chandize in  the  West,  and  one  of  the  most  popular  men 
in  the  country,  and  was  well  known  to  be  a  man  of  the 
first  order  of  talents,  and  great  discrimination  as  to  the 
character  of  men.  Whether  Massie  made  or  sunk  mon- 
ey in  the  salt  speculation  is  not  known,  and  the  subject 
is  introduced  chiefly  to  show  in  what  articles  of  trade 
the  commerce  of  the  country  consisted,  and  the  manner 
in  which  it  was  conducted  ;  and  also  to  show  that  Massie, 
young  as  he  was,  had  rendered  his  name  respectable  by 
his  industry  and  attention  to  business.  The  confidence 
placed  in  him  by  Gen.  Wilkinson  shows  the  light'  in 
which  he  viewed  him.  These  letters  further  show  the 
manner  in  which  business  was  transacted,  and  informa- 


18 

tion  communicated  between  different  parts  of  the  country 
This  was  done,   generally,  by  means  of  expresses.     It 
was  eight  or  ten  years  after  that  period,  before  post  routes 
and  post  offices  afforded  their  facilities  to  the  inhabitants 
of  Kentucky. 

"  Danville,  December  19,  1786. 

"  DEAR  SIR  : — I  beg  you  to  proceed  with  all  possible 
dispatch  to  the  falls.  You  will  call  by  the  lick,  and 
urge  the  provision  of  the  salt ;  and  prepare  some  way 
of  conveying  it  to  the  river,  &c.  &c.  You  will  make  the 
best  of  your  way  to  Nashville,  and  there  dispose  of  it 
for  cotton,  beaver  furs,  racoon  skins,  otter,  &c.  You 
must  always  observe  to  get  as  much  cash  as  you  can. 
When  you  have  completed  your  sales,  you  will  yourself 
move  with  the  horses,  &c.,  by  land,  and  commit  the 
other  articles,  with  the  barge,  to  Captain  Alexander, 
with  directions  to  him  to  proceed  up  to  the  falls,  there 
secure  the  boat  and  property,  and  give  me  the  earliest 
advice  of  his  arrival,  by  express  or  otherwise.  The 
goods  which  Captain  Alexander  carries  down  to  the  falls, 
I  wish  you  to  exchange  for  horses,  or  elegant  high 
blooded  mares,  if  you  can  get  great  bargains  ;  otherwise, 
sell  them  for  cash,  peltry,  or  cotton.  When  you  receive 
the  salt,  take  care  to  have  it  measured  in  a  proper  honest 
way,  with  a  spade  or  shovel,  and  no  sifting,  &c.  One 
Smith  is  preparing  to  go  down  with  two  or  three  hun- 
dred bushels  from  the  lower  lick.  Endeavor  to  get  off 
before  him,  and  if  you  cannot,  persuade  him  to  stay  for 
you  ;  but  you  must  not  wait  for  him  a  moment,  as  it  will 
be  your  interest  to  arrive  before  him.  You  will  remem- 
ber you  are  going  amongst  a  set  of  sharpers,  and  there- 
fore must  take  care  of  yourself.  Write  to  me  by  every 
opportunity,  letting  me  know  how  you  come  on.  Don't 
fail  in  this.  God  bless  you  and  give  you  good  luck. 

"  Yours  sincerely, 

"  J.  WILKINSON." 


GENERAL  NATHANIEL  MASSIE.  19 

"  Fayetle,  2Qth  Dec.  1786,  Friday  Morning. 
"  DEAR  MASSIE  : — I  approve  of  your  plan  to  go  to 
the  port  with  two  hundred  bushels  of  salt,  and  sell  for 
cash  or  furs,  but  take  no  deer  skins.  Be  sure  and  get  as 
many  otters  as  possible.  Be  cautious  in  your  move- 
ments, guard  against  the  savages,  coming  and  going,  and 
discharge  your  men  the  moment  you  get  to  the  port. 
The  only  thing  you  have  to  dread  is  the  ice.  To  be 
caught  in  the  ice  would  be  worse  than  the  devil's  own 
luck.  Act  with  decision  and  despatch  in  whatever  you 
do.  God  bless  you. 

"  J.  WILKINSON." 


CHAPTER  II. 

As  much  as  could  be  learned  of  the  life  of  General 
Massie,  while  engaged  in  business  in  Kentucky,  has  been 
related  in  the  last  chapter.  We  have  now  arrived  at  a 
period  in  his  life,  when  my  own  information  will  serve 
me,  instead  of  the  scanty  materials  from  which  the  nar- 
rative of  his  early  life  has  been  gathered.  The  facts, 
that  I  shall  relate,  will  be  connected  with  the  exploring 
and  settlement  of  our  own  portion  of  the  state,  and  I  hope 
will  interest  both  the  old  and  young.  To  the  old  settlers^ 
it  will  bring  to  remembrance  the  privations  and  hardships 
endured,  and  the  difficulties  and  dangers  long  since  passed 
through,  and  now  almost  forgotten  in  the  lapse  of  time. 
To  the  young  of  the  land,  it  will  be  a  bright  example, 
as  it  will  place  before  them  the  hardy  virtues  of  those 
men,  who  by  their  bravery,  enterprize,  and  industry, 
have  astonished  the  world  by  the  power  with  which  they 
wrested  our  country  from  its  savage  inhabitants,  and 
have,  within  a  few  years,  made  it  almost  the  garden  spot 
of  the  land.  Mr.  Trumbull,  in  his  history  of  Connecti- 


20 

cut,  referring  to  the  early  history  and  settlement  of  new 
countries,  in  his  beautiful  and  appropriate  language,  says, 
that  "no  man  of  genius,  taste,  and  curiosity,  can  read  the 
accounts  of  the  origin  of  nations,  the  discovery,  settle- 
ment, and  progress  of  new  countries,  without  a  high  de- 
gree of  entertainment.  But  in  the  settlement  of  his  own 
country,  in  the  lives  of  his  ancestors,  in  their  adventures 
and  heroism,  he  feels  himself  particularly  interested.  He 
at  once  becomes  a  party  in  theii  affairs,  and  travels  and 
converses  with  them,  with  a  kind  of  filial  delight. 
While  he  beholds  them  braving  the  horrors  of  the  desert, 
the  terrors  of  the  savage,  the  distresses  of  famine  and 
war,  he  admires  their  courage,  and  is  pleased  with  all 
their  escapes  from  danger,  and  all  their  progress  in  settle- 
ments, population,  opulence,  liberty,  and  happiness. 
While  he  contemplates  their  self-denials  and  persever- 
ance, in  surmounting  all  dangers  and  enduring  all  hard- 
ships, in  turning  the  wilderness  into  gardens  and  fruitful 
fields,  and  transmitting  liberty  and  religion  to  posterity, 
he  is  struck  with  a  pleasing  astonishment.  The  pious 
man  views  a  divine  hand  conducting  the  whole,  gives 
thanks,  adores,  and  loves." 

Many  of  the  western  pioneers  were  warriors  by  pro- 
fession and  courted  danger  for  danger's  sake.  These,  on 
account  of  their  daring  intrepidity,  were  welcome  guests 
wherever  they  went.  Others  there  were,  whose  views 
were  more  enlarged,  and  who  with  equal  courage  put 
danger  at  defiance,  keeping  a  steady  eye  to  push  forward 
the  bounds  of  civilization  in  the  vast  wilds  of  the  west. 
Such  were  the  leaders  of  the  hardy  woodsmen,  who  were 
engaged  in  making  new  settlements  on  the  borders  of  the 
river  Ohio,  and  its  tributary  streams.  Some  one  of  these 
master  spirits  led  the  way  in  each  settlement  which  was 
made,  in  spite  of  the  Indians,  -vvnose  restless  and  contin- 
ual incursions  caused  every  cabin  to  be  raised  at  the  risk 
of  life,  and  every  settlement  to  be  made  under  the  most 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  21 

trying  and  perilous  circumstances.  The  rapidity  of  the 
advance  of  arts  and  improvements  seems  so  great  in  later 
years,  that  the  few  weather-beaten  pioneers  who  yet  lin- 
ger amongst  us  look  around  them  with  surprise  and  won- 
der. The  change  seems  so  great  and  so  sudden,  that  it 
appears  to  them  like  the  work  of  supreme  creating  power. 
In  a  few  years  they  beheld  the  country  all  laid  out  in 
farms  and  under  a  high  state  of  cultivation.  Instead  of 
the  log  cabins,  splendid  mansions  glitter  in  the  sun ; 
roads  made,  over  which  the  traveler  glides  along  in  his 
coach  ;  towns  and  cities  erected,  where  the  ingenious 
mechanic  displays  his  arts,  and  the  busy  hum  of  com- 
merce salutes  his  ear.  Railroads  formed  over  which  the 
traveler  passes  with  the  speed  of  the  wind  ;  and  to  crown 
the  whole,  artificial  rivers  are  constructed  to  convey  com- 
merce in  every  direction.  The  master  spirits,  who  by 
their  toils  prepared  the  way  for  changes  such  as  these, 
have  in  the  history  of  their  lives  a  degree  of  originality 
and  interest  far  beyond  common  men.  The  ever  varied 
scenes  of  their  adventures  and  dangers,  will  (or  should) 
always  render  a  narrative  of  their  lives  acceptable  to 
those  who  can  relish  a  description  of  men  of  merit. 
Every  one  should  feel  an  interest  to  see  such  names 
transmitted  to  latest  posterity,  and  thereby  render  "  honor 
to  whom  honor  is  due." 

I  will  borrow  a  few  words  from  Mr.  Doddridge's 
notes.  "  Is  the  memory  of  our  forefathers  unworthy  of 
historic  or  sepulchral  commemoration  ?  No  people  on 
earth,  in  similar  circumstances,  ever  acted  more  nobly  or 
more  bravely  than  they  did.  No  people  of  any  country 
or  age  made  greater  sacrifices  for  the  benefit  of  their  pos- 
terity, than  those  which  were  made  by  the  first  settlers 
of  the  western  regions.  What  people  ever  left  such  noble 
legacies  to  posterity,  as  those  transmitted  by  our  fore- 
fathers to  their  descendants  ?" 

As  the  scene  of  the  adventures  of  General  Massie  and 


22  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

his  companions,  is  confined  to  that  part  of  our  state, 
known  as  the  Virginia  military  district,  I  thought  a  brief 
account  of  its  history  would  be  useful  and  interesting. 

The  state  of  Virginia,  during  the  progress  of  the  Revo- 
lutionary war,  in  order  to  engage  the  active-  services  of 
her  citizens,  and  give  an  ample  compensation  to  those 
hardy  officers  and  soldiers,  who  were  devoting  their  lives 
and  fortunes  to  the  good  of  their  country,  by  several  acts 
of  her  legislature,  granted  them  liberal  bounties  in  new 
unappropriated  lands  for  their  services.  To  satisfy  these 
bounties,  a  large  tract  of  land  was  reserved  in  the  Ken- 
tucky territory. 

Shortly  after  the  close  of  the  war,  in  order  to  avoid  the 
confusion  heretofore  attendant  on  the  careless  locations 
of  lands,  and  also  to  do  ample  justice  to  those  interested, 
an  act  of  the  legislature  was  passed,  authorizing  certain 
deputations  of  officers  therein  named,  or  a  certain  number 
of  them,  from  both  the  continental  and  state  lines,  to  ap- 
point superintendents  on  behalf  of  their  respective  lines  ; 
and  also  nominate  two  principal  surveyors,  to  be  com- 
missioned as  other  surveyors ;  and  to  contract  with  the 
surveyors  for  their  fees,  who  were  authorized  to  select 
their  own  deputies  with  the  consent  of  the  superinten- 
dents. By  a  further  provision  of  this  act,  the  holders 
of  warrants  were  required  to  place  them  in  the 
hands  of  the  surveyors  of  their  respective  lines  by  a 
specified  day,  and  that  then,  the  priority  in  the  location 
of  their  warrants  should  be  decided  by  lot.  The  sur- 
veyors, after  these  preliminary  arrangements,  were 
authorized  to  proceed  to  survey  all  the  good  land  in  that 
tract  of  country  lying  between  Green  and  Cumberland 
rivers,  as  set  apart  by  law  for  the  officers  and  soldiers, 
and  then  to  proceed  to  survey  on  the  northwest  side  of 
the  river  Ohio,  between  the  rivers  Scioto  and  Little  Mi- 
ami, until  the  deficiency  of  lands  to  satisfy  all  military 
bounties  should  be  fully  and  amply  made  up. 

„>•  - 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  23 

Pursuant  to  this  act  of  the  legislature,  the  deputation 
of  the  officers  of  the  continental  line,  consisting  of  Major 
General  Charles  Scott,  Brigadier  General  Daniel  Mor- 
gan, Colonel  William  Heth,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Benja- 
min Temple,  and  Captain  Mayo  Carrington,  elected 
Colonel  Richard  C.  Anderson  to  the  office  of  principal 
surveyor  of  the  bounties  of  lands  to  be  entered  for  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  that  line.  A  contract  dated  the 
17th  day  of  December,  1783,  was  also  entered  into  be- 
tween Col.  Anderson  and  the  deputation  of  officers,  re- 
gulating the  fees  of  the  surveyor,  and  other  matters  con- 
nected with  the  business.  A  copy  of  that  contract,  in 
the  hand  writing  of  Col.  Anderson,  is  now  before  me, 
and  as  an  old  document,  of  much  importance  in  its  time, 
deserves  notice,  and  is  accordingly  inserted.* 

*    Cot.    AjTDEnSOx's    CoXTHACT. 

Be  it  remembered  this  seventeenth  day  of  December,  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand,  seven  hundred  and  eighty  three,  that 
Richard  Clough  Anderson,  of  the  state  of  Virginia,  for  and  on  the 
part  of  himself,  his  heirs,  executors  and  administrators  of  the  first 
part,  and  Major  General  Charles  Scott,  Brigadier  General  Daniel 
Morgan,  Colonel  William  Helh,  Lieutenant  Colonel  Benjamin  Tem- 
ple, and  Captain  Mayo  Carrington,  a  deputation  on  the  part  of  the 
officers  and  soldiers  of  the  Virginia  continental  troops,  for  this  pur- 
pose duly  appointed ;  for  and  on  the  part  of  the  said  officers  and  sol- 
diers, for  themselves  and  their  successors  in  such  deputation  of  the 
second  part,  have  covenanted,  promised,  contracted  and  agreed,  and 
do  by  these  presents,  covenant,  contract,  promise,  and  agree  ;  to  and 
with  each  other  in  the  manner  and  form  following,  that  is  to  say  ; 

First : — The  party  of  the  first  part  being  elected  the  principal  sur- 
veyor for  the  purpose  of  locating  and  surveying  the  several  bounties 
of  lands  which  have  been  given  and  granted  by  the  General  Assem- 
bly of  this  state  to  the  said  officers  and  soldiers,  shall  forthwith  pro- 
ceed to  obtain  the  legal  qualifications  for  effectually  executing  his 
said  office  of  principal  surveyor,  and  having  obtained  such  qualifica- 
tion shall  proceed  as  early  as  may  be  on  the  business  of  locating  and 
surveying  the  bounties  of  land  aforesaid,  for  the  several  officers  and 
soldiers  entitled  thereto,  as  original  grantees  of  the  said  state,  and  for 
their  heirs  agreeable  to  their  respective  warrants,  according  to  such 
modes  and  regulations  as  have  been,  or  shall  hereafter  be,  establish- 
ed by  the  General  Assembly;  faithfully,  and  effectually,  doing  and  per 
forming  at  every  stage  of  the  business,  whatever  it  is  customary  for 
surveyors  to  do  and  perform.  Secondly  : — The  said  party  of  the  first 


24  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

In  the  spring  or  summer  of  the  year  1784,  Colonel 
Anderson  moved  to  Kentucky,  and  purchased  a  fine 
farm  near  Louisville,  where  he  finally  established  his 
residence,  and  gave  to  it  the  appropriate  name  of  the 
"  Soldier's  Retreat."  On  the  20th  day  of  July  of  the 
same  year,  he  opened  his  office  for  the  purpose  of  having 
entries  and  surveys  made  of  the  lands  in  the  Kentucky 
reservation.  Previous  to  this,  however,  on  the  1st  day 
of  March,  1784,  Virginia,  by  her  delegates,  had  ceded  to 
the  United  States  her  territory  northwest  of  the  Ohio,  as 
a  common  fund  for  the  benefit  of  all  the  states,  reserving 
the  country  lying  between  the  Miami  and  Scioto  rivers  to 
be  appropriated  for  the  purpose  of  satisfying  the  conti- 
nental line  warrants,  in  case  the  land  reserved  in  Ken- 
tucky, would  not  be  sufficient  for  that  purpose.  The 
deficiency  of  good  land  in  Kentucky  was  soon  discover- 
ed, and  the  attention  of  the  holders  of  warrants  and  the 

part  shall  carry  with  him,  and  keep  in  service  during  the  time  of  his 
being  on  the  said  business,  or  until  discharged  by  the  superinten- 
dents, four  effective  men  for  chain  carriers,  markers,  and  hunters, 
armed  and  furnished  with  ammunition,  and  also  equipped  with  the 
necessary  utensils  for  performing  the  duties  aforesaid,  for  each  deputy 
or  assistant  surveyor,  he  shall  employ  ;  whose  pay  shall  not  exceed 
three  shillings  per  day  to  be  paid  by  the  said  surveyor,  and  he  to  be  re- 
imbursed therefor  by  the  parties  of  the  second  part.  Thirdly  : — The 
party  of  the  first  part  shall,  out  of  his  own  fees,  pay  the  college  dues 
which  shall  arise  on  this  business,  exonerating  the  said  officers  and 
soldiers  therefrom.  Fourthly  : — The  parties  of  the  second  part,  that 
is  to  say,  the  said  officers  and  soldiers,  their  heirs,  executors,  or  ad- 
ministrators, respectively  pay,  or  cause  to  be  paid  to  the  party  of  the 
first  part,  his  heirs,  executors,  administrators  or  assigns,  the  usual 
surveyor's  fees,  as  by  law  established ;  three  shillings  whereof  for 
every  thousand  acres  to  be  paid  down  at  the  time  of  lodging  the  war- 
rant or  warrants,  on  which  the  said  surveys  are  to  be  made. 

In  witness  whereof  the  said  parties  have  hereunto  interchangeably 
set  their  hands  the  date  above  written. 

RICHARD  C.  ANDERSON. 
(A  copy.)  DANIEL  MORGAN,  B.  G. 

WILL.  HETH,  COL. 
BENJAMIN  TEMPLE,  LT.  Coi, 
M.  CARRINGTON,  CAPT. 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  25 

land  speculators  was  turned  towards  the  reservation  north- 
west of  the  Ohio. 

This  fine  portion  of  our  state,  known  and  called  as  be- 
fore stated  by  the  name  of  the  Virginia  military  district, 
possesses  from  its  situation  and  soil  many  advantages. 
On  the  east  and  north,  its  boundary  is  the  Scioto  river ; 
on  the  west,  the  greater  part  of  the  district  is  bounded 
by  the  Little  Miami,  while  the  entire  southern  boundary 
is  washed  by  the  Ohio,  for  upwards  of  one  hundred  miles. 
The  soil  of  this  tract  of  country  presents  for  its  extent,  a 
greater  variety  than  probably  any  other  of  the  like  ex- 
tent in  the  United  States.  In  the  southeastern  portion, 
the  uplands  extending  thirty  or  forty  miles  below  the 
mouth  of  the  Scioto,  and  thirty  miles  north  from  the 
Ohio,  are  hilly  and  the  land  poor,  and  at  this  time  the 
greater  part  of  it  is  vacant.  Below  the  mouth  of  Brush 
creek,  the  hills  along  the  Ohio,  for  a  short  distance  from 
the  river,  are  rich  and  heavily  timbered.  Farther  down 
the  river,  the  extent  of  rich  land  increases  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Little  Miami.  The  bottoms  of  the  Ohio,  Scioto, 
Miami,  and  the  large  tributary  streams,  composed  of  a' 
rich  and  dark  loamy  soil,  are  celebrated  for  their  fertility, 
and  the  heavy  crops  annually  taken  from  them,  for  a  suc- 
cession of  upwards  of  thirty  years  without  rest  or  re- 
newal in  any  way,  show  that  their  celebrity  is  not  with- 
out foundation.  The  middle  portion  of  the  country  pre- 
sents, however,  the  greatest  variety  of  soil.  Although 
the  extent  of  bottom  land  along  the  streams  is  consider- 
able, yet  the  greater  portion  is  upland  of  good  quality,  on 
which  wheat  is  raised  in  great  abundance.  A  portion  of 
it  is  level  land  timbered  with  beech  and  sugar  trees,  which 
at  the  first  settlement  of  the  country  was  considered 
rather  too  flat  and  wet  for  cultivation,  but  since  it  has 
been  cleared  and  cultivated  it  is  justly  considered  first 
rate  land,  alone  surpassed  by  the  rich  alluvial  bottoms. 
A  part  of  the  middle  portion  consists  also  of  prairie  or 


26  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

barren  land,  the  value  of  which  has  been  lately  discover- 
ed to  be  greater  than  ever  was  expected,  as  it  presented, 
at  the  first  settlement  of  the  country,  a  marshy  appear- 
ance, which  it  was  not  supposed  could  be  overcome  by 
cultivation.  The  industry  of  our  inhabitants  has  over- 
come this  obstacle  ;  and  the  barrens  are  fast  becoming 
very  valuable  land.  The  other  part  of  the  district 
consists  of  barrens,  and  also  of  wet  and  flat  land, 
timbered  with  sugar  and  beech  trees,  and  is  at  this  time 
quite  unsettled.  From  this  variety  of  soil  great  advan- 
tages arise.  In  our  bottoms,  we  raise  corn  in  great 
abundance ;  in  our  uplands,  wheat  and  other  small  grain ; 
while  our  barrens,  or  prairies,  furnish  most  desirable 
pastures  for  grazing.  We  have  thus  a  soil,  in  which  an 
equal  portion  of  the  inhabitants  are  engaged  in  raising 
different  articles  of  produce,  and  greatly  assist  each  other 
by  furnishing  a  home  market  for  different  kinds  of  stock 
and  the  produce  of  the  soil.  But  to  return. 

In  the  winter  and  spring  of  the  year  1787,  Major  John 
O'Bannon  and  Arthur  Fox,  two  enterprising  surveyors 
in  Kentucky,  passed  over  into  the  district  to  obtain  a 
knowledge  of  the  country,  for  the  purpose  of  making 
entries  of  the  land,  so  soon  as  the  office  should  be  open- 
ed for  that  purpose.  They  explored  with  their  com- 
panies the  whole  extent  of  country  along  the  Ohio,  and 
passed  some  distance  up  the  Scioto  and  Miami  rivers, 
and  some  of  their  tributary  streams.  On  the  1st  day  of 
August,  1787,  Colonel  Anderson  opened  the  office  for 
receiving  the  entries  of  lands  in  the  district,  at  which 
time  entries  of  the  bottoms  of  the  Ohio  were  made,  and 
also  a  large  portion  of  the  bottoms  of  the  Scioto  and 
Little  Miami  rivers.  About  that  time,  or  shortly  before, 
several  expeditions  from  Kentucky  made  excursions  into 
the  district,  for  the  purpose  of  destroying  the  Indian 
towns.  Simon  Kenton,  a  name  celebrated  among  back- 
woodsmen, was  along  in  almost  all  of  these  expeditions, 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  27 

and  returning  home  attempted  some  entries  of  lands,  in 
which  he  was  not  successful,  on  account  of  his  want  of 
sufficient  skill  in  making  them. 

So  soon  as  it  was  made  known  to  Congress,  that  en- 
tries had  been  made  in  the  district  northwest  of  the  Ohio, 
by  virtue  of  the  continental  warrants,  an  act  was  passed 
in  July,  1788,  by  which  it  was  resolved,  that  Congress 
would  consider  all  locations  and  surveys  made  on  account 
of  the  troops,  between  the  Scioto  and  Little  Miami  as  in- 
valid, until  the  deficiency  on  the  southeast  side  of  the 
Ohio  should  be  ascertained  and  stated  to  Congress  ;  and 
the  Executive  of  Virginia  was  requested  to  inform  Con- 
gress of  the  deficiency,  if  any,  and  the  amount  of  it. 
This  act,  together  with  the  danger  apprehended  from  the 
Indians,  obstructed  further  entries  and  surveys  in  the  dis- 
trict until  an  act  of  Congress,  passed  in  August  1790,  re- 
pealed the  act  of  July  1788,  which  removed  all  difficulties 
as  to  the  entries  and  surveys,  previously  made  or  subse- 
quently to  be  made.  This  act  also  regulated  the  mode 
of  obtaining  patents,  and  was  amended  by  the  act  of 
1794,  and  other  subsequent  acts. 

The  difficulty  about  the  early  locations  of  lands  north- 
west of  the  Ohio  in  this  district,  arose  from  the  ignorance 
of  those  engaged,  as  to  the  extent  of  jurisdiction  ac- 
quired over  those  lands  by  the  United  States,  from  Vir- 
ginia, by  her  cession  in  March,  1784.  This  is  shown 
from  the  fact  that  the  governor  of  Virginia  issued  patents 
on  a  number  of  surveys  in  the  district.  These  patents 
were  of  course  void,  and  were  subsequently  cancelled, 
and  patents  issued  by  the  President,  under  the  seal  of 
the  United  States.  We  will  now  return. 

The  first  excursion  made  by  General  Massie  into  the 
interior  of  the  district  northwest  of  the  Ohio,  was  in  the 
year  1788  ;  but  no  account  of  the  particulars  of  this  ex- 
pedition or  his  companions  is  now  known.  He  was  pro- 
bably in  company  with  Arthur  Fox,  who  was  at  that 


28  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

time  engaged  in  surveying  lands  in  the  district,  and  a 
particular  friend  and  companion  of  Massie.  A  letter 
from  his  father,  about  this  time,  refers  to  this  expedition. 

"  Goochland  Co.  Oct.  4,  1788. 

LOVING  SON  : — I  received  yours,  favored  by  Mr.  Un- 
derwood, wherein  you  inform  me  that  you  had  made  a 
trip  over  the  Ohio ;  that  you  had  tarried  there  but  a  few 
days.  I  am  afraid  that  you  venture  too  much.  Should  you 
escape  after  doing  what  you  have  engaged,  I  would  ad- 
vise you  to  drop  venturing  too  much,  &c.  By  your  last, 
you  say  that  you  can  finish  all  you  have  undertaken  by 
spring.  God  send  you  a  safe  return,  &c.  I  will  keep 
a  cask  of  cider  till  the  first  of  April  expecting  to  see  you, 
if  God  is  willing. 

"  I  am  your  loving  father, 

"NATHANIEL  MASSIE." 

For  some  time,  during  the  prohibition  of  entries  made 
by  the  act  of  Congress,  of  the  lands  of  this  district, 
Massie  was  engaged  in  writing  in  Col.  Anderson's  office, 
in  order  to  acquire  a  complete  knowledge  of  the  business 
of  locating  and  surveying.  His  character  for  dispatch  in 
business  and  enterprize  gained  him  the  friendship  and 
confidence  of  Col.  Anderson,  who  had  the  control  of  the 
warrants,  placed  in  his  hands  by  his  brother  officers  and 
soldiers.  A  very  large  amount  of  these,  so  soon  as  the 
act  of  Congress  of  August,  1790,  removed  all  further 
obstruction,  he  placed  in  the  hands  of  Massie,  to  enter 
and  survey  on  such  terms  as  he  could  obtain  from  the 
holders  of  them.  As  the  risk  of  making  entries  was 
great,  and  as  it  was  desirable  to  possess  the  best  land, 
the  owners  of  warrants,  in  most  cases,  made  liberal  con- 
tracts with  the  surveyors.  One  fourth,  one  third,  and 
sometimes  as  much  as  one  half  acquired  by  the  entry 
of  good  lands  were  given  by  the  proprietors  to  the  sur- 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  29 

veyors.  If  the  owners  preferred  paying  money,  the 
usual  terms  were  ten  pounds,  Virginia  currency,  for  each 
thousand  acres  entered  and  surveyed,  exclusive  of  chain- 
men's  expenses.  These  terms  cannot  appear  extrava- 
gant, when  we  consider,  that  at  that  time  the  danger  en- 
countered was  great,  the  exposure  during  the  winter  was 
severe,  and  that  the  price  of  first  rate  land  in  the  west 
was  low,  and  an  immense  quantity  in  market. 

The  locations  of  land  warrants  in  this  district  prior  to 
1790,  were  made  by  stealth.  Every  creek  which  was 
explored,  every  line  that  was  run,  was  at  the  risk  of  life 
from  the  savage  Indians,  whose  courage  and  perseverance 
was  only  equalled  by  the  perseverance  of  the  whites  to 
push  forward  their  settlements.  It  was  a  contest  for 
dominion  :  and  the  bravery,  the  stratagem,  and  the  bold- 
ness displayed  by  the  Indians  in  executing  their  plans, 
could  only  be  equalled  by  their  fearless  onsets  in  attacks 
and  their  masterly  retreats  when  defeated. 

The  Indians,  at  this  time,  had  among  them  a  number 
of  master  spirits,  and  it  is  greatly  to  be  regretted  that  the 
history  of  their  exploits  is  lost  forever.  The  patient  re- 
solution and  fortitude  with  which  they  contended  against 
superior  discipline  and  numbers,  the  wiles  and  stratagems 
displayed  by  them  during  their  long  and  bloody  wars, 
proved  that  they  possessed  intellectual  qualities  of  the 
first  order.  Their  fortitude  in  enduring  pain,  fatigue, 
and  starvation,  was  unequalled,  except  by  such  of  the 
whites  as  were  long  disciplined  in  the  Indian  school. 

Besides  exposure  to  the  Indians  while  surveying,  the 
surveyors  in  the  district  had  other  difficulties  to  encoun- 
ter. By  passing  the  Ohio,  they  placed  that  river  between 
them  and  their  place  of  retreat,  in  case  they  were  defeat- 
ed and  pursued.  The  season  of  the  year,  too,  chosen 
by  them  for  surveying  was  the  depth  of  winter,  as  they 
were  then  more  secure  from  interruption  ;  as  the  Indians 
were  at  that  time  of  the  year  in  their  winter  quarters,  and 


30  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

when  hunting  were  found  in  small  bodies.  Against  dan- 
ger and  exposure,  the  surveyors  were  without  shelter  in 
the  district. 


CHAPTER  III. 

IT  is  now  believed  by  many  persons,  that  the  men  who 
effected  our  independence  and  those  who  first  settled  the 
western  country,  were  more  robust  and  hardy  than  the 
present  race  of  men.  This  is  a  mistaken  notion.  It  was 
their  constant  exercise  of  mind  and  body,  which  braced 
and  invigorated  their  constitutions  to  endure  the  constant 
draught  that  was  made  upon  them,  that  rendered  them  so 
hardy.  The  weak  and  feeble,  and  all  such  as  were  pre- 
disposed to  disease,  who  ventured  on  the  frontier  in  those 
days  of  peril  and  privations,  soon  fell  by  sickness,  or  in 
sudden  retreats  lost  their  lives  by  the  Indian's  tomahawk, 
and  were  no  more  heard  of.  The  remnant  of  those 
pioneers,  who  still  linger  amongst  us,  are  the  gleaning 
of  the  most  hardy  of  the  original  stock.  Their  long  lives 
prove  much  in  favor  of  activity  and  hardihood,  yet  for 
both  qualities  they  were  indebted  to  the  circumstances  by 
which  they  were  surrounded :  the  occasion  made  them 
what  they  were.  It  is  believed  that  man  is,  and  has  been, 
the  same  in  all  ages  of  the  world.  He  is  civilized  or 
barbarous,  strong  and  active,  or  weak  and  indolent,  as  are 
his  companions.  The  habits  and  manners  of  the  old 
frontier-men  were  a  perfect  state  of  nature,  where  every 
one  was  his  own  judge,  and  righted  his  own  wrongs  and 
was  his  own  dependence  in  difficulties.  It  cannot  now 
be  conceived  or  believed,  how  soon  an  active,  lively,  and 
enterprizing  young  man  would  unlearn  to  practice  the 
artificial  rules  of  civilized  life,  and  acquire  the  customs 
and  habits  of  the  frontier-men,  or  even  the  more  ferocious 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  31 

habits  of  the  Indians.  This  fact  shows  how  much  we 
are  formed  by  custom,  and  also  that  it  is  only  in  a  dense 
population,  that  the  arts  of  civilized  life  unfold  their  pro- 
tecting and  salutary  beauties. 

With  men,  such  as  these,  hardy,  robust,  and  daring, 
and  in  the  situation  of  the  district  as  described  in  the 
last  chapter,  Massie,  in  the  winter  of  the  year,  1790,  de- 
termined to  make  a  settlement  in  it,  that  he  might  be  in 
the  midst  of  his  surveying  operations  and  secure  his  party 
from  danger  and  exposure.  In  order  to  effect  this,  he 
gave  general  notice  in  Kentucky  of  his  intention,  and  of- 
fered each  of  the  first  twenty-five  families,  as  a  donation, 
one  in-lot,  one  out-lot,  and  one  hundred  acres  of  land, 
provided  they  would  settle  in  a  town  he  intended  to  lay 
off  at  his  settlement.  His  proffered  terms  were  soon 
closed  in  with,  and  upwards  of  thirty  families  joined 
him.  After  various  consultations  with  his  friends,  the 
bottom  on  the  Ohio  river,  opposite  the  lower  of  the 
Three  Islands,  was  selected  as  the  most  eligible  spot. 
Here,  he  fixed  his  station,  and  laid  off  into  lots  a  town, 
now  called  Manchester  ;  at  this  time  a  small  place,  about 
twelve  miles  above  Maysville,  (formerly  Limestone) 
Kentucky. 

This  little  confederacy,  with  Massie  at  the  helm  (who 
was  the  soul  of  it,)  went  to  work  with  spirit.  Cabins 
were  raised,  and  by  the  middle  of  March,  1791,  the 
whole  town  was  enclosed  with  strong  pickets,  firmly  fix- 
ed in  the  ground,  with  block  houses  at  each  angle  for 
defence. 

Thus  was  the  first  settlement  in  the  Virginia  ^military 
district,  and  the  fourth  settlement  in  the  bounds  of  the 
state  of  Ohio,  effected.  Although  this  settlement  was 
commenced  in  the  hottest  Indian  war,  it  suffered  less 
from  depredation,  and  even  interruptions,  from  the  In- 
dians, than  any  settlement  previously  made  on  the  Ohio 
river.  This  was  no  doubt  owing  to  the  watchful  band 


32  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

of  brave  spirits  who  guarded  the  place — men  who  were 
reared  in  the  midst  of  danger  and  inured  to  perils,  and  as 
watchful  as  hawks.  Here  were  the  Beasleys,  the  Stouts, 
the  Washburns,  the  Ledoms,  the  Edgingtons,  the  Den- 
ings,  the  Ellisons,  the  Utts,  the  McKenzies,  the  Wades, 
and  others,  who  were  equal  to  the  Indians  in  all  the  arts 
and  stratagems  of  border  war. 

As  soon  as  Massie  had  completely  prepared  his  station 
for  defence,  the  whole  population  went  to  work,  and 
cleared  the  lower  of  the  Three  Islands,  and  planted  it  in 
corn.  The  island  was  very  rich,  and  produced  heavy 
crops.  The  woods,  with  a  little  industry,  supplied  a 
choice  variety  of  game.  Deer,  elk,  buffalo,  bears  and 
turkeys,  were  abundant,  while  the  river  furnished  a 
variety  of  excellent  fish.  The  wants  of  the  inhabitants, 
under  these  circumstances,  were  few  and  easily  gratified. 
Luxuries  were  entirely  unknown,  except  old  Mononga- 
hela  double  distilled.  This  article  was  in  great  demand 
in  those  days,  and  when  obtained,  freely  used.  Coffee 
and  tea  were  rare  articles,  not  much  prized  or  sought 
after,  and  were  only  used  to  celebrate  the  birth  of  a  new 
comer.  The  inhabitants  of  the  station  were  generally  as 
playful  as  kittens,  and  as  happy  in  their  way  as  their 
hearts  could  wish.  The  men  spent  most  of  their  time 
in  hunting  and  fishing,  and  almost  every  evening  the 
boys  and  girls  footed  merrily  to  the  tune  of  the  fiddle. 
Thus  was  their  time  spent  in  that  happy  state  of  indo- 
lence and  ease,  which  none  but  the  hunter  or  herdsman 
state  can  enjoy.  They  had  no  civil  officers  to  settle 
their  disputes,  nor  priests  to  direct  their  morals ;  yet 
amongst  them  crimes  were  of  rare  occurrence.  Should 
any  one  who  chanced  to  be  amongst  them,  prove  trouble- 
some, or  disturb  the  harmony  of  the  community,  his 
expulsion  forthwith  would  be  the  consequence  ;  and  wo 
be  to  him  if  he  again  attempted  to  intrude  himself  upon 
them. 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  33 

That  "  there  is  a  nobility  above  birth,  and  riches  above 
wealth,"  was  clearly  manifest  in  the  lives  of  the  old 
pioneers.  A  distinguished  Roman  said,  "  the  bravest 
man  was  the  noblest  man."  If  this  position  be  true,  the 
nobility  of  the  frontier  men  remains  unrivaled.  That 
there  "  are  riches  above  wealth,"  was  evidenced  in  the 
lives  of  the  citizens  of  the  frontier  stations.  There  were 
no  rival  grades  or  castes  in  these  small  communities,  to 
create  envy  :  in  their  society  all  stood  on  a  par.  Their 
minds  were  buoyant  with  hope ;  and  when  danger  was 
not  apparent,  they  were  the  happiest,  and  of  course  the 
richest  people  on  earth. 

The  manners  of  the  frontier  men  among  themselves, 
were  affectionate  and  familiar.  They  addressed  each 
other  by  their  Christian  names  only ;  which  custom  still 
appears  to  them,  the  most  friendly  and  courteous  mode 
of  intercourse.  To  one  who  looks  back  on  what  the 
world  was  then,  it  seems  as  if  "  money-making  and  sel- 
fishness had  frozen  up  the  avenues  to  the  heart.  That 
frank,  friendly  intercourse,  which  was  the  delight  and 
honor  of  this  land,  is  gone,  it  is  feared,  for  ever ;  and 
the  cold,  calculating  spirit  of  accumulation,  or  the  worth- 
less emulation  of  show  and  splendor,  has  succeeded." 

When  this  station  was  made,  the  nearest  neighbors 
north-west  of  the  Ohio,  were  the  inhabitants  at  Colum- 
bia, a  settlement  below  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Miami, 
eight  miles  above  Cincinnati,  and  at  Galliapolis,  a  French 
settlement,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Great  Kenhawa.  Look 
at  the  map  of  the  State  of  Ohio,  reader.  You  will 
there  see  the  long  and  dreary  waste,  Massie  and  his  com- 
panions, during  their  exploring  expeditions  through  the 
wilderness  of  the  present  State  of  Ohio,  had  to  travel, 
without  roads  or  paths.  They  could  not  hear  the  agreeable 
sound  of  the  plowman's  gee -haw,  nor  the  keen  crack  of 
the  wagoner's  or  coachman's  whip,  nor  the  clink  of  the 
blacksmith's  hammer,  nor  the  pleasant  clitter-clatter  of 


34  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

the  mill.  All  was  the  lonely  and  solitary  gloom  of  the 
dark  forest.  Then,  too,  could  be  seen  the  wide  spread 
prairie,  dressed  in  nature's  gayest  herbage,  where  the 
most  beautiful  and  sweet  scented  flowers  mingled  in  wild 
confusion,  where  neither  bush  nor  tree  could  be  seen, 
and  where  the  blue  sky  appeared,  in  sublime  grandeur, 
to  lean  on  the  outer  edge  of  the  earth,  like  an  immense 
crystal  bowl  inverted.  Here  silence  reigned  with  the 
stillness  of  death,  except  when  broken  occasionally  by 
the  cries  of  wild  animals,  and  the  appalling  yell  of  the 
Indian. 

Massie  having  permanently  established  himself  in  his 
station,  continued  to  make  locations  and  surveys  of  land 
in  every  direction.  It  was  during  this  period  that  many 
interesting  events  transpired,  connected  with  the  survey- 
ing parties.  Great  precaution  was  used  while  surveying, 
and  the  invariable  rule  with  Massie  was,  to  keep  spies 
around  him  ;  and  if  they  came  across  fresh  Indian  signs, 
and  the  enemy  appeared  to  be  numerous,  then  to  de- 
sist from  surveying,  and,  like  the  terrapins,  return  to 
their  cover.  This  precaution,  though  vigilantly  adhered 
to,  did  not  always  prevent  the  surveyors  from  meeting 
with  disasters,  as  will  appear  by  the  following  incident. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  the  year  1792,  Massie  pro- 
ceeded to  make  some  surveys  on  a  small  creek,  which 
empties  into  the  Ohio  four  miles  above  Manchester, 
accompanied  by  Israel  Donalson,  and  two  others.  They 
meandered  up  the  river  to  the  mouth  of  the  creek,  and 
sat  down  on  a  log,  not  far  from  the  bank  of  the  river,  to 
eat  some  junk.  As  they  were  eating  and  amusing  them- 
selves with  chit-chat,  they  were  not  a  little  startled  to  see 
seven  or  eight  Indians  walk  up  the  bank  of  the  river 
without  their  arms,  having  left  them  in  their  canoe  at  the 
mouth  of  the  creek.  Massie  and  his  party  fled.  The 
Indians,  yelling  horridly,  pursued  them.  When  the  sur- 
veying party  reached  the  foot  of  the  hill,  they  had  a  deep 


t 

GENERAL    NATHANIEL   MASSIE.  35 

ravine  to  cross,  about  ten  or  twelve  feet  wide,  and  as 
many  in  depth.  Massie,  and  two  others  of  his  compan- 
ions, leaped  the  ravine ;  but  poor  Donalson,  being  less 
active  in  making  the  leap,  plunged  into  the  ditch.  Mas- 
sie, and  the  two  others,  soon  ran  to  Manchester,  and  gave 
an  account  of  their  misfortune.  He  was  ignorant  whether 
or  no  Donalson  was  killed.  Early  next  morning  he  col- 
lected twenty  men,  and  went  to  the  ravine,  and  found 
that  Donalson  must  have  been  taken.  The  trail  of  the 
Indians  was  pursued  for  some  distance,  when  it  was  con- 
cluded, that  if  the  pursuit  was  continued,  and  the  Indians 
were  aware  of  it,  they  would  immediately  kill  Donalson  ; 
but  that  if  they  were  permitted  to  go  off  unmolested,  they 
would,  in  all  probability,  save  his  life.  The  pursuing 
party  immediately  returned  to  Manchester,  permitting  the 
Indians  to  pursue  their  course. 

Some  time  passed  before  the  fate  of  Donalson  was 
known  at  the  station,  and  that  was  made  known  by  his 
own  sudden  appearance.  From  his  account  of  the  affair,  it 
appears  the  Indians  had  been  trapping  up  Big  Sandy 
River,  and  were  on  their  return  to  Wapatomaka  town 
(now  Zanesfield),  on  Mad  river.  That  the  Indians  had 
passed  from  the  mouth  of  Big  Sandy,  down  the  Ohio, 
until  they  reached  the  mouth  of  the  creek  where  they 
landed,  with  their  canoes,  and  had  given  pursuit  to  the 
party.  The  foremost  Indian,  pursuing  them  closely,  saw 
Donalson  make  his  unfortunate  plunge,  and  before  he 
could  recover,  leaped  upon  him  tomahawk  in  hand. 
Donalson  instantly  surrendered,  and  was  made  a  prisoner. 
It  was  late  in  the  evening  when  they  took  him,  and  they 
immediately  loaded  him  with  their  peltry,  and  made  a 
rapid  march  homeward.  In  a  few  days  they  reached  the 
Chillicothe  town,  on  the  Little  Miami.  At  this  time,  he 
began  to  think  about  effecting  his  escape,  although  the  dif- 
ficulties against  which  he  had  to  contend  were  great, 
owing  to  the  extreme  caution  and  watchfulness  of  the 


36  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Indians.  At  night  they  confined  him  in  the  following 
manner.  They  took  a  strong  tug  (a  rope  made  of  the 
raw  hide  of  the  buffalo  or  elk),  and  fastened  it  around  his 
body,  each  end  of  the  tug  being  tied  around  the  body  of 
an  Indian.  The  tug  was  tied  so  tightly,  that  it  could  not 
be  slipped,  nor  could  he  move  to  the  one  side  or  the  other 
without  drawing  the  Indian  after  him.  It  was  from  such 
a  situation  he  had  to  extricate  himself.  One  night,  while 
the  Indians  were  tying  him  after  the  usual  manner,  he 
puffed  up  his  body  to  its  full  extent,  by  drawing  in  his 
breath ;  and  when  they  had  completed  the  process,  he 
found  that  there  was  a  good  deal  of  play  in  the  noose  of 
the  tug.  He  laid  very  still  until  the  Indians  were  fast 
asleep.  Then,  having  partly  undressed  himself,  he 
began  slowly  and  cautiously  to  slip  from  the  noose. 
After  a  long  trial  he  succeeded  in  slipping  himself  out, 
and  found  himself  once  more  a  freeman.  He  instantly 
rushed  to  the  thickets.  The  night  was  clear,  and  he 
could  steer  his  course  by  the  stars.  Striking  off  in  a 
southern  direction,  he  traveled  all  night.  The  next  day 
he  fell  on  Harmer's  old  trace,  and  followed  its  course  to 
the  South.  In  two  days  he  reached  Fort  Washington, 
now  Cincinnati.  Here  he  remained  a  few  days  to  recruit 
himself,  and  then  returned  to  his  friends  at  Manchester, 
where  he  was  most  joyfully  received,  as  there  had  been 
with  them  great  anxiety  as  to  his  fate.  The  creek,  at  the 
mouth  of  which  he  was  taken,  was  called  after  him 
"  Donalson's  Creek  ;"  which  name  it  still  retains,  and 
will  retain  when  the  event  which  gave  birth  to  its  name, 
will  be  forgotten.  Mr.  Donalson  is  still  living,  the 
patriarch  of  Manchester,  and  is,  I  believe,  the  only  one 
of  the  first  settlers  who  lives  there  at  this  time.  He  held 
many  public  offices.  He  was  a  member  of  the  conven- 
tion which  formed  the  constitution  for  the  State  of  Ohio, 
and  uniformly  preserved  the  character  of  an  honest  and 
useful  man. 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  37 

In  the  early  part  of  the  winter  of  1791-92,  Massio 
was  engaged  in  locating  and  surveying  the  lands  oil 
Brush  creek,  as  far  up  as  the  three  forks,  intending,  as 
soon  as  there  was  less  danger  from  the  Indians,  to  pro- 
ceed on  a  larger  scale.  It  was  in  the  spring  of  the  same 
year,  that  he  was  engaged  in  surveying  the  bottoms  of  the 
Little  Miami.  He  had  advanced  up  the  river  as  far  as 
the  spot  where  the  town  of  Xenia  is  now  situated,  with- 
out molestation.  Early  one  morning,  the  party  started 
out  to  perform  the  labors  of  the  day.  Massie  was  walk- 
ing in  advance  of  the  party,  when  an  Indian  was  per- 
ceived by  General  William  Lytle,  with  his  gun  pointed 
at  Massie,  and  in  the  act  of  firing.  Lytle,  with  uncom- 
mon quickness,  fired,  and  killed  the  Indian.  After  this 
occurrence  they  advanced  cautiously,  and  soon  found 
themselves  near  an  encampment  of  about  one  hundred 
and  fifty  Indians.  The  party  commenced  a  rapid  retreat, 
and  were  closely  pursued  by  the  Indians.  The  retreat 
and  pursuit  continued  without  relaxation,  until  the  party 
safely  reached  Manchester,  or,  as  it  was  then  called, 
Massie's  station. 

During  the  winter  of  1792-93,  Massie  continued  to 
locate  and  survey  the  best  land  within  a  reasonable  dis- 
tance of  the  station.  As  the  Indians  were  always  more 
quiet  during  the  winter,  he  employed  two  men,  Joseph 
Williams  and  one  of  the  Wades,  to  accompany  him  to 
explore  the  valley  of  Paint  creek,  and  part  of  the  Scioto 
country.  He  found  the  bottoms  rich  beyond  his  expec- 
tations, and  made  entries  of  all  the  good  land  on  that 
creek.  During  that  expedition,  Kenton,  HeliK,  and 
others,  who  had  accompanied  the  various  detachments 
from  Kentucky,  which  had  invaded  the  country,  made  a 
few  entries,  but  the  large  bulk  of  rich  land  was  still 
vacant. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1793,  the  settlers  at  Man- 
chester commenced  clearing  the  out-lots  of  the  town ; 


38  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

and  while  so  engaged,  an  incident  of  much  interest  and 
excitement  occurred.  Mr.  Andrew  Ellison,  one  of  the 
settlers,  cleared  a  lot  immediately  adjoining  the  fort. 
He  had  completed  the  cutting  of  the  timber,  rolled  the 
logs  together  and  set  them  on  fire.  The  next  morning,  a 
short  time  before  daybreak,  Mr.  Ellison  opened  one  of 
the  gates  of  the  fort,  and  went  out  to  throw  his  logs  to- 
gether. By  the  time  he  had  finished  this  job,  a  number 
of  the  heaps  blazed  up  brightly,  and  as  he  was  passing 
from  one  to  the  other,  he  observed,  by  the  light  of  the 
fires,  three  men  walking  briskly  towards  him.  This  did 
not  alarm  him  in  the  least,  although,  he  said,  they  were 
dark  skinned  fellows  ;  yet  he  concluded  they  were  the 
Wades,  whose  complexions  were  very  dark,  going  early 
to  hunt.  He  continued  to  right  his  log-heaps,  until  one 
of  the  fellows  seized  him  by  the  arms,  and  called  out  in 
broken  English,  "  How  do  ?  how  do  ?"  He  instantly 
looked  in  their  faces,  and  to  his  surprise  and  horror, 
found  himself  in  the  clutches  of  three  Indians.  To  re- 
sist was  useless.  He  therefore  submitted  to  his  fate, 
without  any  resistance  or  an  attempt  to  escape. 

The  Indians  quickly  moved  off  with  him  in  the  direc- 
tion of  Paint  creek.  When  breakfast  was  ready,  Mrs. 
Ellison  sent  one  of  her  children  to  ask  their  father  home  ; 
but  he  could  not  be  found  at  the  log-heaps.  His  absence 
created  no  immediate  alarm,  as  it  was  thought  he  might 
have  started  to  hunt  after  the  completion  of  his  work. 
Dinner  time  arrived,  and  Ellison  not  returning,  the  family 
became  uneasy,  and  began  to  suspect  some  accident  had 
happened  to  him.  His  gun-rack  was  examined,  and  there 
hung  his  rifle  and  his  pouch  in  their  usual  place.  Massie 
raised  a  party,  and  made  a  circuit  around  the  place,  and 
found,  after  some  search,  the  trails  of  four  men,  one  of 
whom  had  on  shoes  ;  and  as  Ellison  had  shoes  on,  the 
truth,  that  the  Indians  had  made  him  a  prisoner,  was  un- 
folded. As  it  was  almost  night  at  the  time  the  trail  was 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  39 

discovered,  the  party  returned  to  the  station.  Next 
morning,  early  preparations  were  made  by  Massie  and 
his  party  to  pursue  the  Indians.  In  doing  this  they  found 
great  difficulty,  as  it  was  so  early  in  the  spring  that  the 
vegetation  was  not  of  sufficient  growth  to  show  plainly 
the  trail  of  the  Indians,  who  took  the  precaution  to  keep 
on  hard  and  high  land,  where  their  feet  could  make  little 
or  no  impression.  Massie  and  his  party,  however,  were 
as  unerring  as  a  pack  of  well  trained  hounds,  and  follow- 
ed the  trail  to  Paint  creek,  when  they  found  the  Indians 
gained  so  fast  on  them,  that  pursuit  was  vain.  They 
therefore  abandoned  it,  and  returned  to  the  station. 

The  Indians  took  their  prisoner  to  Upper  Sandusky, 
and  compelled  him  to  run  the  gauntlet.  As  Ellison  was 
a  large  man  and  not  very  active,  he  received  a  severe 
flogging  as  he  passed  along  the  line.  From  this  place  he 
was  taken  to  Lower  Sandusky,  and  was  again  compelled 
to  run  the  gauntlet,  and  was  then  taken  to  Detroit,  where 
he  was  generously  ransomed  by  a  British  officer  for  one 
hundred  dollars.  He  was  shortly  afterwards  sent  by  his 
friend,  the  officer,  to  Montreal,  from  whence  he  returned 
home  before  the  close  of  the  summer  of  the  same 
year. 

Another  incident  connected  with  the  station  at  Man- 
chester, occurred  shortly  after  this  time,  which,  although 
somewhat  out  of  order  as  to  time,  I  will  take  the  liberty 
to  relate  in  this  place. 

John  Edgington,  Asahel  Edgington,  and  another  man 
started  out  on  a  hunting  expedition  towards  Brush  creek. 
They  camped  out  six  miles  in  a  northeast  direction  from 
where  West  Union  now  stands,  and  near  where  Treber's 
tavern  is  now  situated,  on  the  road  from  Chillicothe  to 
Maysville.  The  Edgingtons  had  good  success  in  hunt- 
ing, having  killed  a  number  of  deer  and  bears.  Of  the 
deer  killed,  they  saved  the  skins  and  hams  alone.  The 
bears,  they  fleeced  ;  that  is,  they  cut  off  all  the  meat 


40  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

which  adhered  to  the  hide  without  skinning,  and  left  the 
bones  as  a  skeleton.  They  hung  up  the  proceeds  of 
their  hunt  on  a  scaffold,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  wolves 
and  other  wild  animals,  and  returned  home  for  pack 
horses.  No  one  returned  to  the  camp  with  the  two 
Edgingtons.  As  it  was  late  in  December,  no  one  ap- 
prehended danger,  as  the  winter  season  was  usually  a 
time  of  repose  from  Indian  incursions.  When  the 
Edgingtons  arrived  at  their  old  hunting  camp,  they 
alighted  from  their  horses  and  were  preparing  to  strike  a 
fire,  when  a  platoon  of  Indians  fired  upon  them,  at  the 
distance  of  not  more  than  twenty  paces.  Asahel  Edging- 
ton  fell  to  rise  no  more.  John  was  more  fortunate.  The 
sharp  crack  of  the  rifles  and  the  horrid  yells  of  the  In- 
dians, as  they  leaped  from  their  place  of  ambush,  fright- 
ened the  horses,  who  took  the  track  towards  home  at 
full  speed.  John  Edgington  was  very  active  on  foot,  and 
now  an  occasion  offered  which  required  his  utmost  speed. 
The  moment  the  Indians  leaped  from  their  hiding  place, 
they  threw  down  their  guns  and  took  after  him.  They 
pursued  him  screaming  and  yelling  in  the  most  horrid 
manner.  Edgington  did  not  run  a  booty  race.  For  about 
a  mile  the  Indians  stepped  in  his  tracts  almost  before  the 
bending  grass  could  rise.  The  uplifted  tomahawk  was  fre- 
quently so  near  his  head,  that  he  thought  he  felt  its  edge. 
Every  effort  was  made  to  save  his  life,  and  every  exertion 
of  the  Indians  was  made  to  arrest  him  in  his  flight.  Edging- 
ton,  who  had  the  greatest  stake  in  the  race,  at  length  be- 
gan to  gain  on  his  pursuers,  and  after  a  long  race,  he 
distanced  them,  made  his  escape,  and  safely  reached 
home.  This,  truly,  was  a  most  fearful  and  well  contested 
race.  The  big  Shawnee  chief,  Captain  John,  who  head- 
ed the  Indians  on  this  occasion,  after  peace  was  made 
and  Chillicothe  settled,  frequently  told  the  writer  of  this 
sketch  of  the  race.  Captain  John  said,  that  "  the  white 
man  who  ran  away  was  a  smart  fellow,  that  the  white 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  41 

man  run  and  I  run,  he  run  and  run,  at  last,  the  white 
man  run  clear  off  from  me." 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  PERSON  engaged  in  writing  upon  a  particular  subject 
will,  as  a  mutter  of  course,  within  the  range  of  his  in- 
formation, collect  a  mass  of  materials,  from  which  it  will 
be  his  duty  to  select  the  most  useful  and  interesting.  To 
do  this,  however,  with  skill  sufficient  to  please  the  ma- 
jority of  his  readers,  is  a  difficult  task.  A  person  usual- 
ly writes  upon  subjects  about  which  he  has  bestowed 
much  thought,  and  in  which  he  feels  a  deep  interest. 
Of  course,  matters  which  appear  to  him  of  great  impor- 
tance, he  will  discover  frequently  to  be  overlooked  by 
the  generality  of  readers.  Of  such  treatment  he  must 
not  complain,  but,  on  the  contrary,  he  must  strengthen 
himself  by  a  large  share  of  independence,  which  will 
make  him  write  with  a  consciousness,  that  his  narrative 
will  meet  with  a  kind  reception  from  the  intelligent,  and 
that  it  will  be  found  useful  for  the  future. 

Such  is  my  situation  in  writing  this  sketch.  I  know 
that  many  things  I  have  written  may  not  entertain,  yet  I 
believe  them  to  be  useful  facts  and  have  inserted  them. 
From  this  cause,  and  as  I  am  writing  the  life  of  the  most 
extensive  surveyor  and  land  speculator  with  us  in  early 
times,  I  shall  take  the  liberty  to  describe  the  method  by 
which  the  titles  to  lands  in  the  Virginia  military  district 
were  acquired  and  perfected,  and  also  the  method  by 
which  surveying  was  actually  conducted  in  our  wild 
country. 

I  have  said  above,  that  the  lands  in  this  district  were 
entered  and  surveyed  by  virtue  of  military  land  warrants 
issued  by  the  state  of  Virginia  to  her  officers  and  sol- 


42  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

diers  of  the  continental  line.  These  warrants  were  issued 
to  satisfy  bounties,  promised  by  various  acts  of  her  legis- 
lature to  these  officers  and  soldiers,  and  prescribed  the 
amount  of  land  to  which  each  person  should  be  entitled, 
according  to  rank  in  the  army  and  the  time  of  actual 
service.  Each  person  after  the  expiration  of  the  time  of 
service,  received  from  the  governor  and  council  a  certi- 
ficate of  his  rank  in  the  army,  the  length  of  time  of  service 
and  the  number  of  acres  to  which  he  was  entitled,  which 
certificate  was  filed  with  the  register  of  the  land  office, 
and  a  warrant  on  printed  paper  and  under  the  seal  of  the 
office,  was  issued  to  the  owner.  In  many  cases,  war- 
rants issued  by  virtue  of  special  acts  or  resolutions  of 
the  Assembly,  and  were  usually  known,  on  this  ac- 
count, as  resolution  warrants.  A  warrant  is  merely  a 
direction  and  authority  given  to  the  principal  surveyor 
of  land  to  survey  and  lay  off",  in  one  or  more  surveys  for 
the  person  entitled,  his  heirs,  or  assigns,  the  given  quan- 
tity of  acres  specified  in  the  warrant.  These  warrants 
when  issued  were  delivered  to  the  owners,  who  were  re- 
quired to  file  them  with  the  principal  surveyor,  and  pay 
him  a  certain  fee  for  receiving  them.  When  filed  they 
at  first  took  their  legal  order  in  location. 

The  holders  of  warrants  were  at  liberty  to  locate  them, 
yet  as  they  were  unacquainted  with  the  vacant  land,  they 
usually  employed  the  deputy  surveyors,  as  their  agents, 
to  enter  and  survey  them,  on  certain  agreed,  or  well 
known  terms. 

The  first  step  taken  towards  the  acquisition  of  land  by 
a  warrant  is  by  means  of  an  entry.  An  entry  is  the  ap- 
propriation of  a  certain  quantity  of  vacant  land  by  the 
owner  of  the  warrant.  It  is  made  in  a  book  kept  by  the 
surveyor  for  that  purpose,  and  contains  the  quantity  of 
acres  intended  to  be  appropriated,  the  number  of  the 
warrant  on  which  it  is  entered,  and  then  calls  for  some 
specific,  notorious,  and  permanent  object  or  objects  by 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIF,.  43 

which  the  locality  of  the  land  may  be  known,  and  usual- 
ly concludes  with  a  general  description  of  the  courses  to 
be  pursued  in  a  survey  of  it.  This  particularity  was 
required,  that  every  person  holding  a  warrant  might  be 
enabled,  without  interfering  with  the  prior  locations  of 
others,  to  locate  his  own  warrant,  and  this  could  not  be 
done  with  safety  in  a  wild  country,  unless  prior  entries 
were  made  with  sufficient  certainty  as  to  their  notoriety. 
The  defect  of  entries,  in  this  particular,  has  given  rise 
to  a  greater  amount  of  litigation  in  land  titles,  than  any 
other  cause  whatever. 

Next,  in  order,  came  the  survey,  which  is  intended  to 
give  a  certain  and  regular  form  to  the  entry,  by  metes 
and  bounds  actually  marked,  and  established  by  the  sur- 
veyor. The  great  requisite  with  the  survey  was  a  con- 
formity to  a  just  and  reasonable  construction  of  the  entry, 
as  to  the  land  intended  to  be  appropriated  by  it.  A  want 
of  conformity,  in  this  respect,  rendered  the  survey  de- 
fective as  to  all  lands  without  the  calls  of  the  entry.  Sur- 
veys, when  made,  were  returned  to  the  general  surveyor 
with  a  fair  plat  of  each  particular  tract  of  land,  and  a 
description  of  the  same  by  metes  and  bounds,  and  was 
signed  by  the  deputies  who  executed  them,  together  with 
the  names  of  the  chain-men  and  markers  annexed,  who 
made  each  survey.  The  surveys  were  then  recorded, 
and  the  plats,  with  a  certificate  from  the  surveyor  under 
his  seal  of  office  delivered  to  the  owner,  together  with 
th,e  original  warrant  and  the  assignments,  if  any,  if  the 
warrant  was  satisfied ;  if  it  was  not,  then  a  copy  of  the 
warrant  and  certificate  from  the  surveyor  of  the  fact  that 
the  warrant  was  still  unsatisfied.  The  owner  of  each 
survey  could  then  obtain  a  patent  for  his  land  from  the 
President  of  the  United  States. 

The  system  of  entering  and  surveying  lands,  in  the 
irregular  manner  we  find  in  this  district,  was  adopted 
from  the  Virginia  and  Kentucky  land  system.  In  these 


44  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

states,  great  inconvenience  and  litigation,  have  been  the 
result  of  it.  The  unsettled  situation  of  the  country,  the 
unbounded  rage  for  speculation,  and  the  immense  quan- 
tity of  land  warrants  afloat,  and  the  little  value  attached 
by  Virginia  to  her  lands,  all  combined  to  make  land  titles 
hazardous  in  the  extreme,  and  was  the  cause  of  much 
innocent  suffering.  In  this  district,  although  much  liti- 
gation has  resulted  from  this  system,  yet  the  surprise  is, 
when  we  consider  the  unsettled  state  of  the  country  at 
the  time  entries  and  surveys  were  made,  that  it  has  not 
been  greater.  This  may,  in  a  great  measure,  be  attribu- 
ted to  the  minute  attention,  the  uniformity,  and  ability  of 
Col.  Anderson  in  the  discharge  of  his  duties,  and  the  ex- 
perience of  his  deputies,  and  their  great  confidence  in 
each  other.  Yet,  under  all  circumstances,  this  may  be 
called  a  defective  system,  especially  when  we  compare  it 
with  the  simple,  the  regular,  and  admirable  system  adopted 
by  the  United  States,  in  their  surveys  of  public  lands. 

The  plan  adopted  by  Massie,  in  his  various  surveying 
excursions  at  that  time,  was  such  as  to  secure  safety  to 
the  party.  Three  assistant  surveyors,  with  himself  ma- 
king the  fourth,  were  generally  engaged  at  the  same  time 
in  making  surveys.  To  each  surveyor  was  attached  six 
men,  which  made  a  mess  of  seven.  Every  man  had  his 
prescribed  duty  to  perform.  Their  operations  were  con- 
ducted in  this  manner  : — In  front  went  the  hunter,  who 
kept  in  advance  of  the  surveyor  two  or  three  hundred 
yards,  looking  for  game,  and  prepared  to  give  notice 
should  any  danger  from  Indians  threaten.  Then  follow- 
ed, after  the  surveyor,  the  two  chain-men,  marker,  and 
pack-horse  men  with  the  baggage,  who  always  kept  near 
each  other,  to  be  prepared  for  defence  in  case  of  an  at- 
tack. Lastly,  two  or  three  hundred  yards  in  the  rear, 
came  a  man,  called  the  spy,  whose  duty  it  was  to  keep  on 
the  back  trail,  and  look  out  lest  the  party  in  advance 
might  be  pursued  and  attacked  by  surprise.  Each  man 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASS1E.  45 

(the  surveyor  not  excepted)  carried  his  rifle,  his  blanket, 
and  such  other  articles  as  he  might  stand  in  need  of.  On 
the  pack-horse  was  carried  the  cooking  utensils,  and  such 
provisions  as  could  be  conveniently  taken.  Nothing  like 
bread  was  thought  of.  Some  salt  was  taken,  to  be  used 
sparingly.  For  subsistence,  they  depended  alone  on  the 
game  which  the  woods  afforded,  procured  by  their  un- 
erring rifles.  In  this  manner  was  the  largest  number  of 
surveys  made  in  the  district.  But  to  return. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1793,  Massie  determined  to 
attempt  a  surveying  tour  on  the  Scioto  river.  This,  at 
that  time,  was  a  very  dangerous  undertaking;  yet  no 
danger,  unless  very  imminent,  could  deter  him  from  ma- 
king the  attempt.  For  that  purpose,  he  employed  about 
thirty  men,  of  whom  he  choose  three  as  assistant  survey- 
ors. These  were  John  Beasley,  Nathaniel  Beasley,  and 
Peter  Lee.  It  was  in  this  expedition,  Massie  employed, 
for  the  first  time,  a  young  man  by  the  name  of  Duncan 
McArthur  as  a  chain-man  or  marker.  This  man  had  dis- 
tinguished himself  remarkably  on  several  occasions,  and 
particularly  in  Harmer's  unfortunate  expedition.  He  was 
one  of  the  best  woodsmen  of  his  age.  He  was  a  large, 
strong,  and  muscular  man,  capable  of  enduring  fatigue 
and  privations,  equal  to  the  best  trained  Indians.  His 
courage  was  unquestioned,  to  which  was  added  an  en- 
ergetic mind,  which  soon  displayed  its  powers.  He  after- 
wards became  a  surveyor,  and  was  one  of  the  most  acute 
land  speculators  in  the  western  country.  Such  a  man 
Massie  desired  to  have  on  an  expedition  of  this  char- 
acter. 

In  the  month  of  October,  some  canoes  were  procured, 
and  Massie  and  his  party  set  off  by  water.  They  pro- 
ceeded up  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto,  thence 
up  the  Scioto  to  the  mouth  of  Paint  creek.  While  mean- 
dering the  Scioto,  they  made  some  surveys  on  the  bot- 
toms. After  reaching  the  mouth  of  Paint  creek,  the  sur- 
4 


46  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

veyors  went  to  work.  Many  surveys  were  made  on  the 
Scioto,  as  far  up  as  Westfati.  Some  were  made  on 
Main,  and  others  on  the  North  Fork  of  Paint  creek,  and 
the  greatest  parts  of  Ross  and  Pickaway  counties  in  the 
district  were  well  explored  and  partly  surveyed.  Massie 
finished  his  intended  work  without  meeting  with  any  dis- 
turbance from  the  Indians.  But  one  Indian  was  seen 
during  the  excursion,  and  to  him  they  gave  a  hard  chase. 
He,  however,  escaped.  The  party  returned  home  de- 
lighted with  the  rich  country  of  the  Scioto  valley,  which 
they  had  explored. 

During  the  winter  of  1793-4,  Massie,  in  the  midst 
of  the  most  appalling  dangers,  explored  the  different 
branches  to  their  sources,  which  run  into  the  Little  Mia- 
mi river,  and  thence  passed  in  a  northeastern  direction  to 
the  heads  of  Paint  and  Clear  creeks,  and  the  branches 
that  form  those  streams.  By  these  expeditions  he  had 
formed  from  personal  observation,  a  correct  knowledge 
of  the  geographical  situation  of  the  country  composing 
the  Virginia  military  district. 

During  the  winter  of  1794-5,  Massie  prepared  a  party 
to  enter  largely  into  the  surveying  business.  Nathaniel 
Beasley,  John  Beasley,  and  Peter  Lee  were  again  em- 
ployed as  the  assistant  surveyors.  The  party  set  off 
from  Manchester  well  equipped  to  prosecute  their  busi- 
ness, or  should  occasion  offer  give  battle  to  the  Indians. 
They  took  the  route  of  Logan's  trace,  and  proceeded  to  a 
place  called  the  deserted  camp,  on  Tod's  fork  of  the 
Little  Miami.  At  this  point,  they  commenced  surveying, 
and  surveyed  large  portions  of  land  on  Tod's  fork,  and  up 
the  Miami  to  the  Chillicothe  town,  (now  in  Clark  coun- 
ty) thence  up  Massie's  creek  and  Caesar's  creek  nearly 
to  their  heads.  By  the  time  the  party  had  progressed 
thus  far,  winter  had  set  in.  The  ground  was  covered 
with  a  sheet  of  snow,  from  six  to  ten  inches  deep.  Du- 
ring the  tour,  which  continued  upwards  of  thirty  days, 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  47 

the  party  had  no  bread.  For  the  first  two  weeks,  a  pint 
of  flour  was  distributed  to  each  mess  once  a  day,  to 
mix  with  the  soup,  in  which  the  meat  had  been  boiled. 
When  night  came,  four  fires  were  made  for  cooking,  that 
is,  one  for  each  mess.  Around  these  fires,  till  sleeping 
time  arrived,  the  company  spent  their  time  in  the  most 
social  glee,  singing  songs  and  telling  stories.  When 
danger  was  not  apparent  or  immediate,  they  were  as 
merry  a  set  of  men  as  ever  assembled.  Resting  time  ar- 
riving, Massie  always  gave  the  signal,  and  the  whole 
party  would  then  leave  their  comfortable  fires,  carrying 
with  them  their  blankets,  their  fire-arms,  and  their  little 
baggage,  walking  in  perfect  silence  two  or  three  hundred 
yards  from  their  fires.  They  would  then  scrape  away 
the  snow,  and  huddle  down  together  for  the  night.  Each 
mess  formed  one' bed,  they  would  spread  down  on  the 
ground  one  half  of  the  blankets,  reserving  the  other  half 
for  covering.  The  covering  blankets  were  fastened  to- 
gether by  skewers  to  prevent  them  from  slipping  apart. 
Thus  prepared,  the  whole  party  crouched  down  together 
with  their  rifles  in  their  arms,  and  their  pouches  under 
their  heads  for  pillows  ;  laying  spoon-fashion,  with  three 
heads  one  way  and  four  the  other,  their  feet  extending 
to  about  the  middle  of  their  bodies.  When  one  turned, 
the  whole  mess  turned,  or  else  the  close  range  would  be 
broken  and  the  cold  let  in.  In  this  way,  they  lay  till 
broad  day  light ;  no  noise  and  scarce  a  whisper  being 
uttered  during  the  night.  When  it  was  perfectly  light, 
Massie  would  call  up  two  of  the  men  in  whom  he  had 
the  most  confidence,  and  send  them  to  reconnoiter, 
and  make  a  circuit  around  the  fires,  lest  an  ambuscade, 
might  be  formed  by  the  Indians  to  destroy  the  party 
as  they  returned  to  the  fires.  This  was  an  invari- 
able custom  in  every  variety  of  weather.  Self-preserva- 
tion required  this  circumspection.  If  immortality  is  due 
to  the  names  of  heroes  who  have  successfully  labored  in 


48  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

the  field  of  battle,  no  less  honors  are  due  to  such  men  as 
Massie,  who  ran  equal  risk  of  life  from  danger  with  less 
prospect  of  eclat,  and  produced  more  lasting  benefit  to 
the  country. 

Massie  proceeded  to  survey  up  Caesar's  creek,  nearly 
to  where  its  waters  interlock  with  the  waters  of  Paint 
creek.  Late  one  evening,  he  came  upon  the  tracks  of 
Indians  in  the  snow.  Some  of  his  men  were  despatched 
to  search  out  the  Indian  encampment,  while  others  were 
sent  in  pursuit  of  the  assistant  surveyors,  in  order  to  col- 
lect the  force  into  one  body,  that  he  might  be  prepared 
to  attack  or  defend  as  circumstances  might  direct.  A 
short  time  before  sun-down,  his  force  was  collected.  In 
a  few  minutes  after,  the  two  men  returned  who  had  been 
sent  to  discover  the  Indian  camp.  They  reported,  that 
they  had  proceeded  as  near  the  Indian  encampment  as 
they  could  with  safety,  and  that  it  consisted  of  eight  or 
ten  tents,  and  that  from  the  noise  about  the  camp,  they 
had  no  doubt  but  that  there  was  a  large  number  of  In- 
dians. Massie,  thereupon,  concluded  that  it  would  be 
too  hazardous  to  attack  them  while  the  snow  was  on  the 
ground,  believing  it  would  endanger  the  whole  party 
if  they  would  be  compelled  to  retreat,  encumbered  with 
any  wounded.  He  therefore  resolved  to  desist  from  sur- 
veying, and  make  a  rapid  retreat  to  his  own  station,  not 
doubting  but  that  he  would  be  pursued,  as  the  Indians 
would  have  no  difficulty  in  tracking  them  through  the 
snow.  The  line  of  march  was  formed  for  home  by  the 
party,  who  traveled  until  ten  or  eleven  o'clock  at  night, 
when  they  halted  and  remained  until  morning,  when 
they  again  resumed  their  march,  moving  in  a  southern 
direction.  About  twelve  o'clock,  they  came  to  a  fresh 
trail,  which  was  made  by  four  horses  and  eight  or  ten 
footmen.  This  trail  was  crossed  diagonally,  and  was 
again  struck  upon  after  traveling  a  few  miles.  After  a 
consultation  with  some  of  the  most  experienced  of  his 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  49 

men,  Massie  concluded  the  Indians,  whose  trail  had  been 
crossed,  knew  nothing  of  them,  and  determined  to  pur- 
sue them  so  long  as  they  kept  the  direction  in  which 
they  appeared  then  to  be  going.  The  pursuit  of  the  In- 
dians was  kept  up  as  fast  as  the  men  could  walk,  until 
dusk  without  overtaking  them.  The  party  then  halted  to 
consult  as  to  their  future  operations.  In  a  few  minutes, 
the  Indians  were  heard  at  work  with  their  tomahawks, 
cutting  wood  and  tent  poles,  within  a  few  hundred  yards 
of  the  place  where  the  party  had  halted.  It  was  put  to 
vote,  whether  the  Indian  camp  should  be  attacked  imme- 
diately, or  whether  they  should  postpone  it  to  day-light. 
A  majority  were  for  lying  by  and  attacking  them  in  day- 
light. Two  or  three  men  were  then  sent  to  reconnoiter 
their  camp  and  bring  away  their  horses.  The  horses 
were  brought  away,  and  preparations  made  to  lie  by 
for  the  night.  Massie,  who  was  more  thoughtful  than 
the  rest  of  the  company,  began  to  reflect  on  the  critical 
situation  of  the  party.  He  told  them,  he  did  not  approve 
of  the  idea  of  lying  by  until  morning,  as  there  was  no 
doubt  they  were  rapidly  pursued  by  the  Indians  from  the 
head  of  Csesar's  creek,  and  that  by  waiting  until  morn- 
ing, the  pursuing  Indians  might  come  up  in  the  course 
of  the  night,  and  when  day-light  appeared,  they  would 
find  themselves  between  two  fires.  He  said  it  was  true 
the  Indians  might  be  destroyed  more  effectually  in  day- 
light, but  that  it  was  dangerous  to  loiter  away  their  time 
on  a  retreat,  and  advised  that  whatever  they  did  to  the 
Indians  should  be  done  quickly,  and  the  march  continued 
towards  home.  It  was  resolved  to  follow  his  advice. 

It  was  about  two  hours  in  the  night  when  this  occur- 
red. The  day  had  been  warm,  and  had  melted  the  snow 
which  was  eight  inches  deep,  and  quite  soft  on  the  top. 
At  night  it  began  to  freeze  rapidly,  and  by  this  time  there 
was  a  hard  crust  on  the  top.  In  this  situation,  the  crust 
when  broken  by  a  man  walking  on  a  calm  night  could  be 


50 

heard  at  the  distance  of  three  hundred  yards.  Massie, 
under  these  circumstances  prepared  to  attack  the  Indians 
forthwith.  The  men  were  formed  in  a  line,  in  single  file, 
with  their  wiping  sticks  in  their  hands,  to  steady  them 
when  walking.  They  then  commenced  moving  towards 
the  Indian  camp  in  the  following  manner  : — the  foremost 
would  walk  about  twenty  steps,  and  halt ;  then  the  next 
in  the  line  would  move  on,  stepping  in  the  tracks  of  the 
foremost,  to  prevent  any  noise  when  breaking  the  crust 
of  the  snow.  In  this  cautious  and  silent  manner,  they 
crept  within  about  twenty-five  yards  of  the  Indian  en- 
campment, when  an  unexpected  interruption  presented 
itself;  a  deep  ravine  was  found  between  Massie  and  the 
camp  which  was  not  perceived  by  the  reconnoitering 
party.  The  Indians  had  not  as  yet  laid  down  to  rest, 
but  were  singing  and  amusing  themselves  round  their 
fires,  in  the  utmost  self-security,  not  dreaming  of  danger 
in  their  own  country,  in  the  depth  of  winter.  The  bank 
of  the  ravine  concealed  Massie  and  his  men,  who  were 
on  low  ground,  from  the  light  of  the  Indian  fires.  After 
halting  a  few  minutes  on  the  bank  of  the  ravine,  Massie 
discovered,  a  few  paces  above  him,  a  large  log  which 
had  fallen  across  the  ravine.  On  this  log  he  determin- 
ed to  cross  the  gully.  Seven  or  eight  of  the  men,  on 
their  hands  and  knees,  had  crossed,  and  were  within  not 
more  than  twelve  or  fifteen  paces  of  the  Indians,  crouch- 
ing low,  and  turning  to  the  right  and  left,  when  too  many 
men  at  the  same  time  got  on  the  log  ;  and  as  it  was  old 
and  rotten,  it  broke  with  a  loud  crash.  This  started  the 
Indians.  The  whites,  who  had  crossed  over  before  the 
log  broke,  immediately  fired  into  the  Indian  camp,  shout- 
ing as  they  run.  The  Indians  fled,  naked,  and  without 
their  arms.  No  Indian  was  killed  in  the  camp,  although 
their  clothing  and  blankets  were  found  stained  with 
blood.  No  attempt  was  made  to  pursue  them.  Their 
camp  was  plundered  of  the  horses  and  arms,  making  al- 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  51 

together  considerable  booty.  The  party  traveled  that 
night  and  until  noon  the  next  day,  when  they  halted  to 
cook  some  provisions,  and  rest  their  wearied  limbs. 
After  taking  some  refreshments,  they  loitered  about  the 
fires  a  short  time,  and  again  commenced  their  march 
through  snow  and  brush,  and  about  midnight  of  the  sec- 
ond day,  arrived  at  Manchester,  after  a  fatiguing  march 
of  two  days  and  nights  from  the  head  of  Caesar's  creek. 
On  the  last  day  of  their  march,  about  a  mile  north  of 
where  West  Union  now  stands,  one  of  the  men  who 
carried  a  bag  of  Indian  plunder,  and  rode  one  of  the 
horses,  dropped  the  bag,  and  did  not  miss  it  until  they 
arrived  at  Manchester.  Sometime  in  the  succeeding  day, 
two  of  the  men  took  fresh  horses,  and  rode  back  on  the 
trail,  to  look  for  the  bag.  They  found  the  bag  some  dis- 
stance  south  of  the  brow  of  the  hill,  and  concluded  they 
would  go  to  the  brow  and  look  over  for  deer.  When 
they  reached  it,  they  were  astonished  to  find  the  spot 
where  a  large  party  of  Indians  had  followed  the  trail  to 
the  top  of  the  hill,  and  there  stopped  to  eat  their  break- 
fast, leaving  some  bones  and  sinewy  jirk,  that  was  too 
hard  to  eat.  Had  the  Indians  pursued  the  trail  one  hun- 
dred yards  farther,  they  would  have  found  the  bag,  and 
laid  in  ambush  for  the  whites  to  return,  and  would  doubt- 
less have  killed  or  taken  the  men  who  returned  for  the 
bag.  This  was  truly  a  narrow  escape. 


CHAPTER  V. 

The  winter  of  1794-95  was  attended  by  no  disturb- 
ances from  the  Indians,  as  the  defeat  they  had  sustained 
the  summer  before  from  General  Wayne,  had  completely 
checked  them  in  their  depredations.  In  the  spring  of 
1795,  Massie  again  prepared  a  party  to  return  to  the 


52  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

waters  of  the  Little  Miami,  Paint  creek,  and  the  Scioto, 
for  the  purpose  of  surveying.  He  employed  three 
assistant  surveyors,  with  the  usual  complement  of  men. 
Every  man  carried,  as  usual  in  these  surveying  tours,  his 
own  baggage  on  his  back.  No  one,  indeed,  was  exempt 
from  this  service ;  and  when  the  weight  is  taken  into 
consideration,  and  the  encumbrance  from  it,  there  seems 
to  be  little  ground  for  the  complaints,  which  have  latterly- 
been  made,  about  the  inaccuracies  of  early  surveys.  In- 
deed, it  is  really  astonishing,  how  they  could  be  made  so 
accurate  as  they  are  found  to  be. 

Early  in  March  the  party  set  off  from  Manchester. 
The  weather  was  fine,  and  the  spring  appeared  to  have 
commenced  in  earnest.  Massie  commenced  surveying 
on  the  west  fork  of  Ohio  Brush  creek.  The  woods  then 
furnished  game  in  great  abundance,  such  as  turkeys  and 
bears,  of  the  finest  quality.  A  description  of  the 
method  in  which  bears  were  taken,  although  familiar  to 
the  old  backwoodsmen,  will  be  perhaps  interesting  to 
their  descendants,  as  these  animals  have  become  scarce 
since  the  settlement  of  the  country.  It  is  well  known 
that  bears  retire  to  the  hollows  of  rocks  or  trees,  about 
the  last  of  December,  and  remain  in  a  dormant  state  until 
the  winter  breaks,  be  it  early  or  late.  When  the  weather 
becomes  warm,  they  will  bustle  out  of  their  holes  to  the 
nearest  water,  once  in  two  or  three  days.  In  walking 
from  their  holes  to  the  water,  they  are  careful  to  step  in 
the  same  track ;  and  as  the  earth  at  that  season  of  the 
year  is  soft  and  spongy,  the  feet  of  the  bear,  in  passing 
and  repassing,  make  a  deep  impression.  These  impres- 
sions are  called  by  the  old  hunters,  "  the  bear's  stepping- 
place."  When  the  hunter  finds  the  stepping-place,  he 
can  easily  follow  the  track,  until  he  finds  the  tree  in  the 
hollow  of  which,  or  in  some  cave  or  hole  in  the  rocks, 
the  animal  lies  at  ease.  They  are  then,  by  various 
means  used,  driven  from  their  holes,  and  shot.  During 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  53 

this  expedition,  a  young  man,  by  the  name  of  Bell,  who 
was  very  active  in  climbing  trees,  exhibited  great  bold- 
ness in  driving  them  from  their  holes.  When  a  bear  was 
tracked  to  a  tree,  this  man,  when  the  tree  was  not  very 
large  and  smooth,  would  climb  up  and  look  into  the  hole, 
and  punch  the  bear  with  a  sharp  stick  until  it  would  come 
out.  Bears  at  this  season  are  very  lazy  and  difficult  to 
move.  By  punching  them,  however,  for  some  time, 
they  will  move  heavily  to  their  holes,  and  slowly  drag 
themselves  out.  As  soon  as  they  were  clear  of  their 
holes,  some  one  or  two  picked  marksmen  would  shoot 
them.  Bell,  so  soon  as  he  would  provoke  the  bears  to 
come  out,  would  slip  out  on  a  limb,  and  wait  with  perfect 
composure  until  the  marksmen  would  shoot  them.  These 
feats  are  specimens  of  Bell's  daring.  He  was,  altogether, 
one  of  the  most  hardy,  fearless,  and  thoughtless  men  of 
danger,  I  ever  saw.  In  this  way  numerous  bears  were 
found  and  killed.  The  fat  part  of  the  meat,  boiled  or 
roasted  with  turkey  or  venison,  makes  a  very  luxurious 
repast.  But  to  return. 

The  weather,  for  some  time,  continued  quite  pleasant, 
while  the  party  surveyed  towards  the  head  waters  of 
Brush  creek.  They  thence  passed  to  the  Rocky  and 
Rattlesnake  forks  of  Paint  creek  ;  thence  crossing  Main 
Paint,  they  passed  up  Buckskin,  and  across  to  "  the  old 
town,"  on  the  north  point  of  Paint  creek.  While  sur- 
veying in  this  section  of  the  country,  the  weather  became 
cloudy,  and  commenced  snowing  and  hailing.  The  snow 
continued  to  fall  and  drift  for  two  days  and  nights  ;  and 
when  it  ceased,  the  ground  was  covered  between  two  and 
three  feet  deep.  The  camp  was  on  the  ground,  at  this 
time  the  farm  of  Colonel  Adam  Mallow,  four  miles  above 
Old  town  (or  Frankfort,  as  it  is  now  called.)  About  the 
time  it  ceased  snowing,  the  weather  became  warm,  and  a 
soft  rain  fell  for  a  short  time.  Suddenly  it  became  in- 
tensely cold,  accompanied  by  a  frost,  which  soon  formed 


54  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

a  strong  crust  on  the  snow,  which  had  been  previously 
softened  by  the  rain.  The  snow,  although  somewhat 
settled  by  the  rain,  was  at  least  two  feet  deep,  with  a 
crust  that  would  bear  about  half  the  weight  of  a  man. 
This  was  the  deepest  snow  I  ever  saw,  before  or  since, 
in  the  western  country.  The  turkeys,  and  other  small 
game,  could  run  on  the  crust  of  snow,  which  disabled 
the  hunters  from  pursuing  and  killing  game  ;  and  as  the 
party  had  no  provisions  with  them,  the  doleful  prospect 
of  death  by  starvation  stared  them  in  the  face. 

This  tour  was  subsequently  called  the  starving  tour; 
and  the  remnant  of  those  who  are  on  this  side  of  the 
grave,  yet  remember  with  horror  their  situation  at  that 
time.  The  prudence  exercised  by  them  heretofore,  of 
sleeping  away  from  their  fires,  was  not  attended  to.  The 
party  lay  around  their  fires  by  day  and  night,  anxiously 
praying  for  a  change  in  the  weather.  .  Some  of  the 
strongest  and  most  spirited  among  the  party,  several 
times  made  ineffectual  attempts  to  kill  game.  Among 
these  hunters,  General  Duncan  McArthur,  of  Fruit  hill, 
near  Chillicothe,  and  William  Leedom,  of  Adams  county, 
were  conspicuous.  On  the  third  day  of  the  storm,  they 
killed  two  turkeys.  They  were  boiled,  and  divided  into 
twenty-eight  shares  or  parts,  and  given  equally  to  each 
man.  This  little  food  seemed  only  to  sharpen  their 
appetites.  Not  a  particle  of  the  turkeys  was  left.  The 
heads,  feet,  and  entrails,  were  devoured,  as  if  most 
savory  food. 

The  fourth  morning  of  the  continuance  of  the  snow, 
Massie,  with  his  party,  turned  their  faces  homeward. 
The  strongest  and  most  hardy  of  the  men  were  placed 
in  front,  to  break  through  the  snow.  This  was  a  fatiguing 
and  laborious  business,  and  was  performed  alternately  by 
the  most  spirited  and  strongest  of  the  party.  They  thus 
proceeded  in  their  heavy  and  disconsolate  inarch  the 
whole  day,  and  at  night  reached  the  mouth  of  the  Rattle- 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  55 

snake  fork  of  Paint  creek,  a  distance  of  about  ten  miles. 
In  the  course  of  that  day  the  sun  shone  through  the 
clouds,  for  the  first  time  since  the  storm  commenced,  and 
by  its  warmth  softened  the  crust  on  the  snow.  This 
rendered  the  traveling  less  laborious.  As  the  party 
descended  the  sloping  ground  towards  the  bank  of  Paint 
creek,  they  came  across  a  flock  of  turkeys,  and  killed 
several.  These  were  cooked,  and  equally  divided  among 
the  men.  That  night  the  party  lay  by  their  fires  without 
guards  or  sentinels ;  and  as  the  night  was  warm,  the 
snow  gradually  melted.  Early  next  morning  the  most 
of  the  party  turned  out  to  hunt,  and  killed  a  number 
of  turkeys,  some  deer,  and  a  bear.  When  these  were 
brought  to  camp,  a  feast  ensued,  which  was  enjoyed 
with  a  zest  and  relish,  which  none  can  properly  appre- 
ciate, but  those  who  have  been  so  unfortunate  as  to  be 
placed  in  a  similar  situation. 

The  writer  of  this  narrative  accompanied  General 
Massie  on  this  tour,  and  had  previously  passed  through 
many  trying  and  distressing  scenes ;  but  the  hardships 
and  privations  of  this  tour  were  the  most  trying  to  the 
firmness,  resolution,  and  fortitude  of  men,  he  ever  saw  or 
experienced.  Only  reflect,  reader,  on  the  critical  situation 
of  twenty-eight  men,  exposed  to  the  horrors  of  a  terrible 
snow-storm  in  the  wilderness,  without  hut,  tent,  or  cov- 
ering, and,  what  was  still  more  appalling,  without  provi- 
sion, without  any  road  or  even  a  track  to  retreat  on,  and 
nearly  one  hundred  miles  from  any  friendly  aid  or  place 
of  shelter,  exposed  to  the  truly  tremendous  and  pitiless 
peltings  of  a  storm  of  four  days  continuance,  and  you 
can  fancy  to  yourself  some  faint  idea  of  the  sufferings  of 
this  party. 

Although  more  than  forty  years  have  passed,  I  can 
scarcely  think  of  our  sufferings,  even  at  this  length  of 
time,  without  shuddering.  The  people  of  the  present 
time,  who  now  inhabit  our  western  country,  and  are 


56  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

sheltered  from  tempestuous  storms  in  comfortable  and 
elegant  mansions,  and  are  blessed  with  peace  and  plenty, 
can  scarcely  appreciate  the  sufferings  and  privations  of 
those  who  led  the  way  in  settling  our  western  country. 
Under  all  the  hardships  of  this  tour,  Mas&ie  always 
showed  a  cheerful  face,  and  encouraged  his  men  to  hope 
for  better  times.  Nothing  like  despondency  ever  clouded 
his  brow,  nor  did  his  good  humor  forsake  him  during 
the  gloom  and  despair  of  this  trying  occasion. 

The  storm  being  passed,  fine  weather  and  plenty 
ensued,  and  the  party  again  went  cheerfully  to  work. 
Massie  surveyed  all  the  land  he  at  first  designed,  and 
returned  to  Manchester  without  any  adventure  worthy 
of  relation. 

The  summer  of  the  year  1795  passed  off  without  any 
disturbance  from  the  Indians.  This  was  doubtless  owing 
to  the  check  given  them,  the  summer  previous,  by  Gen- 
eral Wayne ;  and  also  from  the  fact,  that  they  were  at 
that  time  stipulating  with  General  Wayne  a  treaty  of 
peace.  Although  not  much  faith  was  placed  in  Indian 
treaties,  yet  the  settlements  of  the  whites  began  to  extend 
from  the  town  of  Manchester  into  the  country.  Massie 
sold  a  large  amount  of  land  to  actual  settlers  upon  credit, 
and  many  cabins  were  raised  along  the  Ohio,  and  on 
Brush  and  Eagle  creeks ;  but  they  were  uninhabited 
from  the  fear  of  the  Indians. 

The  fertility  of  the  soil  on  Paint  creek  and  throughout 
the  Scioto  valley,  began  to  attract  the  attention  of  many 
Kentuckians  to  that  quarter  of  the  country.  As  General 
Massie  had,  some  years  previously,  entered  and  surveyed 
the  land  in  that  section  of  the  country,  and  was  the 
owner  of  large  tracts  of  first-rate  land,  he  determined,  at 
all  hazards,  to  attempt  a  settlement  at  some  spot  in  the 
Scioto  valley,  whether  the  attempt  would  result  in  peace 
or  war.  For  the  purpose  of  attracting  settlers,  he  issued 
a  notice,  that  he  intended  to  lay  off  a  town  at  some  ad- 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  57 

vantageous  site  on  the  Scioto  river ;  and  offered  as  a 
donation  to  the  first  one  hundred  settlers,  one  in-lot  and 
one  out-lot  of  four  acres  in  the  town,  provided  they  would 
build  a  cabin  on  their  lot,  or  otherwise  become  perma- 
nent settlers  of  the  town  or  its  vicinity. 

This  notice  soon  attracted  the  attention  of  several 
respectable  citizens  of  Kentucky.  Among  these  were 
Captain  Petty,  an  old  soldier,  and  the  Reverend  Robert 
W.  Finley.  A  party  was  soon  raised  to  explore  the 
country  and  select  the  situation  of  the  town.  A  short 
and  correct  description  of  this  expedition  is  given  by  an 
anonymous  writer,  over  the  initials  of  "  F.  B."  in  the 
Western  Christian  Advocate,  of  June  13th,  1834,  which 
is  in  all  probability  from  the  pen  of  the  Reverend  J.  B. 
Finley,  now  or  lately  a  presiding  elder  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  the  son  of  the  Reverend  Robert 
W.  Finley.  I  take  the  liberty  of  making  an  extract  from 
that  piece,  as  it  is  connected  with  the  subject. 

"In  the  year  1795,  while  Wayne  was  in  treaty  with 
the  Indians,  a  company  came  out  from  Manchester  on  the 
Ohio  river,  to  explore  the  north-western  territory,  and 
especially  the  valley  of  the  Scioto.  General  Massie  was 
in  this  little  band.  After  proceeding  several  days  cau- 
tiously, they  fell  on  Paint  creek,  near  the  falls.  Here 
they  found  fresh  Indian  signs,  and  had  not  traveled  far 
before  they  heard  the  bells  on  the  horses.  Some  of  the 
company  were  what  was  called  raw  hands,  and  previous 
to  this  wanted  much  « to  smell  Indian  powder.'  One  of 
the  company,  who  had  fought  in  the  revolutionary  war, 
and  also  with  the  Indians,  said  to  one  of  these  vaunting 
fellows,  '  If  you  do,  you  will  run,  or  I  am  mistaken.' 
A  council  was  now  called.  Some  of  the  most  expe- 
rienced thought  it  was  too  late  to  retreat,  and  thought 
it  best  to  take  the  enemy  by  surprise.  General  Mas- 
sie, Fallenach,  and  R.  W.  Finley,  were  to  lead  on  the 
company,  and  Captain  Petty  was  to  bring  up  the 


58  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

rear.  The  Indians  were  encamped  on  Paint  creek, 
precisely  at  what  is  called  Reeve's  crossing.  They  came 
on  them  by  surprise,  and  out  of  forty  men,  about  twenty 
of  them  fought.  Those  fellows  who  wanted  to  smell 
powder  so  much,  ran  the  other  way,  and  hid  behind  logs, 
and  Captain  Petty  reported  afterwards  that  they  had  the 
ague,  they  were  so  much  affrighted.  The  battle  was 
soon  ended  in  favor  of  the  whites,  for  the  Indians  fled 
across  the  creek,  and  left  all  they  had  but  their  guns. 
Several  were  killed  and  wounded,  and  one  white  man,  a 
Mr.  Robinson,  was  shot  through  the  body,  and  died  im- 
mediately. These  Indians  had  one  male  prisoner  with 
them,  who  made  his  escape  to  the  whites,  and  was 
brought  home  to  his  relatives.  As  soon  as  the  company 
could  gather  up  all  the  horses  and  skins,  and  other  plun- 
der, they  retreated  for  the  settlement  at  Manchester,  on 
the  Ohio  river.  Night  overtook  them  on  the  waters  of 
Scioto  Brush  creek,  and  as  they  expected  to  be  followed 
by  the  Indians,  they  made  preparation  for  the  skirmish. 
The  next  morning,  an  hour  before  day,  the  attack  was 
made  with  vigor  on  the  part  of  the  Indians,  and  resisted 
as  manfully  by  a  few  of  the  whites.  There  being  a  sink- 
hole near,  those  bragging  cowards  got  down  into  it,  to 
prevent  the  balls  from  hitting  them.  Several  horses  were 
killed,  and  one  man,  a  Mr.  Gilfillan,  shot  through  the 
thigh.  After  an  hour's  contest,  the  Indians  retreated  ; 
and  the  company  arrived  at  the  place  they  started  from, 
having  lost  one  man,  and  one  man  wounded.  Thus  ended 
the  exploring  of  the  valley  of  the  Scioto  this  year. 

"  In  this  expedition,  our  fellow  citizen,  the  late  Gen- 
eral James  Menury,  was  present,  and  sustained  through- 
out his  character  of  a  brave  man,  being  one  of  the  first 
to  engage  with  the  enemy.  This  was  the  last  Indian 
fight  during  the  old  Indian  war. 

"  The  fall  and  winter  of  1795  passed  off  without  any 
thing  worthy  of  note  taking  place  in  the  settlement. 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL   MASSIE.  59 

General  Wayne  had  concluded  a  treaty  of  peace  with  the 
Indians,  which  was  looked  upon  rather  as  a  truce  than  a 
permanent  peace.  Numerous  treaties  of  peace  had  been 
made  with  them  during  this  long  and  bloody  war,  which 
treaties  lasted  no  longer  than  till  an  opportunity  offered 
to  make  some  successful  assaults  upon  the  whites.  In- 
deed, the  whites  themselves,  at  that  day,  were  not  very 
scrupulous  of  violating  the  terms  of  treaties,  both  parties 
being  exasperated  against  each  other,  on  account  of  the 
many  horrid  massacres  which  had  reciprocally  taken 
place  in  a  border  war  of  thirty  years.  But,  fortunately 
for  the  whites,  Wayne  seemed  to  have  turned  in  earnest 
the  spirit  of  the  Indians,  as  the  treaty  of  Grenville  re- 
mained inviolate,  with  a  very  few  exceptions,  until 
1812." 

This  was  the  last  Indian  fight  on  the  waters  of  the 
Scioto  river. 

Notwithstanding  that  I  was  born  and  raised  on  the 
frontier,  I  am  unable  to  describe  to  the  life,  the  terror, 
tumult,  and  confusion  of  an  Indian  alarm.  Although  I 
have,  when  young,  repeatedly  run  clinging  to  my  mother's 
gown  from  our  cabin,  to  a  place  of  more  safety — the  con- 
fusion and  distressing  scene  of  a  family  in  flight,  their 
cabins  in  flames,  their  all  destroyed,  the  thousand  rest- 
less cares  and  tender  sorrows,  to  which  they  were  inces- 
santly exposed,  language  fails  in  describing.  To  see 
whole  families  wandering  from  their  homes,  seeking 
shelter  and  safety,  was  only  a  common  occurrence  on  the 
frontier.  Such  scenes  as  these  tried  the  worth  of  men, 
and  proved  who  were  the  soldiers.  Happily  for  our 
country,  no  repetition  of  such  scenes  of  distress  and 
terror,  are  to  be  anticipated  in  future. 


60  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  failure  of  the  expedition  to  select  the  situation  of 
a  town  on  the  Scioto  river,  as  related  in  the  last  chapter, 
did  not  deter  Massie  from  making  a  further  attempt. 
About  the  last  of  February  or  first  of  March,  1796,  a 
party  was  again  collected  at  Manchester.  Some  of  the 
party  went  by  water  up  the  Ohio  and  Scioto,  and  others 
by  land,  and  met  at  the  mouth  of  Paint  creek,  at  a  place 
afterwards  known  as  the  "  Station  prairie."  The  party 
who  arrived  by  water,  brought  in  their  boats,  besides  a 
few  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  farming  utensils,  and 
other  articles  necessary  to  make  a  permanent  settlement. 

On  the  first  day  of  April  of  that  year,  they  landed 
their  goods,  commenced  the  construction  of  their  cab- 
ins, and  prepared  for  planting  corn.  Three  hundred 
acres  of  rich  prairie  were  quickly  turned  up  by  thirty 
ploughs  ;  and  the  land  for  the  first  time  resounded  with 
the  cheerful  sound  of  the  plowman's  voice. 

That  season  was  attended  by  great  prosperity  to  the 
settlers.  Although  they  suffered,  at  one  time,  greatly 
for  the  want  of  some  of  the  necessaries  of  life,  yet  in 
this  they  were  soon  relieved  by  the  luxuriant  crops  of 
their  plantation.  No  disturbance  ensued  from  the  Indians, 
who  mixed  with  the  whites  in  the  most  friendly  manner, 
showing  every  disposition  to  preserve  inviolate,  the  con- 
ditions of  their  treaty  of  peace.  Indeed,  the  behavior 
of  the  Indians  was  entirely  peaceful  for  many  years, 
unless  they  were  excited  by  the  cupidity  of  the  whites, 
in  selling  them  ardent  spirits. 

While  these  things  were  transpiring  at  the  settlement, 
Massie  was  engaged  in  making  a  selection  for  the  site  of 
a  town,  which  was  at  last  located  on  the  Scioto  river. 
That  stream  (the  greater  part  of  it)  runs  in  very  regular 


GENERAL   NATHAMEL    MASSIE.  61 

channel  from  the  north  almost  due  south.  About  four  or 
five  miles,  however,  above  the  mouth  of  Paint  creek,  the 
river  suddenly  makes  a  bend,  and  runs  a  short  distance 
east,  thence  southeast  to  the  mouth  of  Paint  creek.  That 
stream,  the  largest  tributary  of  the  Scioto,  for  four  or  five 
miles  above  its  mouth,  runs  almost  parallel  with  the 
Scioto.  Between  these  two  streams  there  is  a  large  and 
beautiful  bottom,  four  or  five  miles  in  length,  and  varying 
from  one  to  two  miles  in  breadth,  and  contains  within 
the  space  upwards  of  three  thousand  acres.  This  bottom, 
(as  also  the  bottoms  of  the  Scioto  and  Paint  creek  gen- 
erally,) is  very  fertile ;  the  loam,  of  alluvial  formation, 
being  from  three  to  ten  feet  in  depth.  These  bottoms, 
when  first  settled,  were  generally  covered  by  a  heavy 
growth  of  timber,  such  as  black  walnut,  sugar  tree, 
cherry,  buckeye,  hackberry,  and  other  trees  which  denote 
a  rich  soil.  A  portion  of  them,  however,  were  found 
destitute  of  timber,  and  formed  beautiful  prairies,  clothed 
with  blue  grass  and  blue  sedge-grass,  which  grew  to  the 
height  of  from  four  to  eight  feet,  and  furnished  a  bounti- 
ful supply  of  pasture  in  summer  and  hay  in  winter,  for 
the  live  stock  of  the  settlers.  The  outer  edges  of  these 
prairies  were  beautifully  fringed  around  with  the  plum 
tree,  the  red  and  black  haw,  the  mulberry  and  crab  apple. 
In  the  month  of  May,  when  these  nurseries  of  nature's 
God  were  in  full  bloom,  the  sight  was  completely  grati- 
fied, while  the  fragrant  and  delicious  perfume,  which 
filled  the  surrounding  atmosphere,  was  sufficient  to  fill 
and  lull  the  soul  with  ecstasies  of  pleasure. 

The  western  boundary  of  this  valley,  between  the  two 
streams,  is  a  hill,  two  or  three  hundred  feet  in  height. 
Its  base  to  the  south  is  closely  washed  by  Paint  creek, 
and  when  this  stream  first  enters  the  valley,  it  terminates 
in  an  abrupt  point,  and  then  extends  up  the  valley  of  the 
Scioto,  in  a  north-west  and  north  course,  for  many  miles, 
and  forms  the  western  boundary  of  the  bottoms  along 


62  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

that  stream.  From  the  point  where  the  hill  abruptly 
terminates  at  Paint  creek,  running  north-north-east,  at  the 
distance  of  about  one  mile  across  the  valley,  you  reach 
the  bank  of  the  Scioto,  at  the  sudden  bend  it  makes  to 
the  east.  The  valley  between  this  bend  of  the  Scioto 
and  Paint  creek,  immediately  below  the  point  of  the  hill, 
was  selected  as  a  site  for  the  town.  This  part  of  the 
valley  was  chosen,  as  it  consisted  of  high  and  dry  land, 
not  subject  to  the  floods  of  the  river,  which  frequently 
inundated  the  valley  towards  the  mouth  of  Paint  creek. 

The  town  was  laid  out  on  a  large  tract  of  land  owned 
by  General  Massie,  and  contained  two  hundred  and 
eighty-seven  in-lots,  and  one  hundred  and  sixty-nine  out- 
lots.  The  in-lots  were  six  poles  in  width  in  front  on  the 
street,  and  ran  back  twelve  poles  to  the  alleys ;  except 
the  in-lots  on  Market  or  Front  street,  which  ran  with  the 
river,  and  extended  back  irregularly.  The  out-lots  ad- 
joined the  in-lots,  and  contained  four  acres,  almost  in  a 
square.  The  streets  were  laid  out  of  uncommon  width, 
two  of  them  being  six  poles  wide  ;  two,  five  poles  ;  and 
the  others,  four  poles. 

After  the  necessary  steps  had  been  taken  to  run  off  the 
lots,  streets,  and  alleys  of  the  town,  by  blazing  and 
marking  the  trees  of  the  thick  woods,  the  proprietor  held 
a  consultation  with  his  friends,  and  gave  to  the  town  the 
name  of  Chillicothe.  This  name  was  derived  from 
among  the  many  names,  given  by  the  aborigines  of  our 
country  to  different  objects.  In  their  language,  it  was  a 
general  name  for  "  town."  They  had  two  towns,  called 
alone  by  this  general  name  ;  "  The  Old  Town,"  on  the 
north  fork  of  Paint  creek,  and  "  New  Chillicothe,  or 
Town,"  on  the  head  of  the  Little  Miami  river. 

One  hundred  in  and  out-lots  in  the  town,  were  chosen 
by  lot,  by  the  first  one  hundred  settlers,  as  a  donation, 
according  to  the  original  proposition  of  the  proprietor. 
A  number  of  in  and  out-lots  were  also  sold  to  other  per- 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  63 

sons,  desiring  to  settle  in  the  town.  The  first  choice 
of  in-lots  were  disposed  of  for  the  moderate  sum  of  ten 
dollars  each.  The  town  increased  rapidly,  and  before 
the  winter  of  1796,  it  had  in  it  several  stores,  taverns, 
and  shops  for  mechanics.  The  arts  of  civilized  life  soon 
began  to  unfold  their  power  and  influence  in  a  more 
systematic  manner,  than  had  ever  been  witnessed  by 
many  of  its  inhabitants,  especially  those  who  were  born 
and  raised  in  the  frontier  settlements,  where  neither  law 
nor  gospel  were  understood  or  attended  to. 

In  the  sales  of  lands,  his  policy  showed  great  foresight 
in  reference  to  the  rapid  and  permanent  settlement  of  the 
country,  which  seemed  to  be  his  constant  aim.  He  di- 
vided off  large  bodies  of  land  into  small  tracts  of  one  and 
two  hundred  acres  each,  and  by  low  prices,  and  liberal 
terms  of  payment,  every  one,  as  well  those  with,  as 
those  without  the  means,  were  induced  to  purchase,  as 
time  was  granted  them  to  pay  for  their  land  by  means  of 
their  own  industry.  In  the  settlement  of  a  new  country, 
no  other  course  pursued  in  the  disposal  of  lands  will  in- 
duce a  rapid  settlement.  Every  farm  in  a  new  country, 
always  enhances  in  value,  in  proportion  to  its  actual  im- 
provement, and  the  value  is  sometimes  more  than  ten- 
fold the  cost  of  the  original  purchase.  Besides  this,  farms 
of  small  dimensions,  in  a  free  country,  are  always  culti- 
vated with  more  care,  neatness,  and  actual  profit,  than 
large  farms,  and  add  far  more  to  the  population  and  in- 
trinsic wealth  of  a  country.  This  observation  can  be 
made  by  any  one  who  will  look  at  the  situation  of  our 
country.  In  those  parts  where  the  land  is  divided  into 
small  and  well  cultivated  farms,  the  prosperity  of  the  in- 
habitants is  greater,  and  the  country  more  intrinsically 
rich,  than  where  the  land  is  held  in  large  bodies. 

Large  quantities  of  fine  bottom  land,  on  the  Scioto 
river  and  Paint  creek,  were  sold  by  General  Massie,  at 
the  sum  of  one  and  two  dollars  per  acre.  These  lands 


64  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

quickly  rose  in  value,  and  at  this  time,  not  quite 
forty  years  since  first  sold,  the  owners  would  be  unwill- 
ing to  dispose  of  them  at  forty  dollars  per  acre.  Such 
has  been  the  unparalleled  prosperity  of  our  country  ! 

Gen.  St.  Clair,  governor  of  the  northwestern  territory, 
placed  great  confidence  in  General  Massie,  and  through 
him  transacted  most  of  the  business  with  the  settlements 
above  the  little  Miami.  Through  him,  as  Colonel  Massie, 
the  militia  of  that  part  of  the  northwestern  territory  were 
first  organized. 

In  the  year  1800,  General  Massie  was  married  to  a 
daughter  of  Colonel  David  Meade  of  Kentucky,  formerly 
of  Virginia.  In  1802,  Congress  passed  a  law,  author- 
izing the  people  of  that  portion  of  the  northwestern  ter- 
ritory, comprising  the  state  of  Ohio,  to  form  a  constitu- 
tion and  state  government.  Members  were  elected  to 
compose  that  convention,  which  met  at  Chillicothe,  on 
the  first  day  of  November  1802,  and  after  a  session  of 
about  three  weeks,  the  present  constitution  of  our  state 
was  formed.  General  Massie  was  a  very  efficient  mem- 
ber of  this  convention.  He  was  elected  a  member  with 
great  unanimity,  as  he  was  by  far  the  most  popular  man 
between  Limestone  and  Zanesville.  Indeed  his  good 
offices  to  the  first  settlers  of  the  country  were  so  numer- 
ous, that  it  would  be  risking  a  good  deal,  to  speak  irre- 
verently of  the  man,  who  made  most  of  them  by  his  in- 
dulgence freeholders. 

General  Massie  was  elected  to  the  senate  from  Ross 
county,  the  first  session  the  assembly  met  under  the  new 
constitution,  and  was  elected  speaker  during  the  session. 
This  duty  he  performed  to  the  entire  satisfaction,  of  the 
body  over  which  he  presided. 

Under  the  constitution,  a  new  organization  of  the  mi- 
litia was  to  be  made.  Massie  was  elected  the  first  Major 
General  of  the  second  division  of  the  militia  of  Ohio, 


GENERAL    NATHANIEL    MASSIE.  65 

having  held  the  office  of  colonel  under  the  government 
of  the  northwestern  territory. 

General  Massie  was,  at  this  time,  one  of  the  largest 
landholders  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  as  he  was  now 
married,  he  began  to  think  about  selecting  a  suitable 
place  for  a  residence.  Around  the  falls  of  Paint  creek, 
in  Ross  county,  he  had  a  large  body  of  excellent  land, 
consisting  of  several  thousand  acres.  The  advantage  of 
this  situation  on  account  of  the  fine  water  privileges,  and 
the  excellent  situation  of  the  farm  for  raising  stock,  in- 
duced him  to  select  it  as  a  place  of  residence.  Here,  he 
built  a  large  and  comfortable  mansion. 

This  country,  at  that  time,  was  very  much  visited  by  the 
citizens  of  Virginia,  as  they  owned  large  quantities  of 
land  in  this  section.  General  Massie's  residence  was  the 
usual  resort,  where  they  always  met  with  a  welcome  re- 
ception and  were  hospitably  entertained.  In  his  hospi- 
tality, indeed,  he  rather  bordered  on  extravagance,  espe- 
cially when  visited  by  any  of  his  old  war-worn  and 
woods  companions.  No  gratification,  which  he  could 
afford,  but  was  freely  extended  to  those  who  followed 
him  in  times  of  danger.  His  lady  although  raised  in 
polished  and  fashionable  life,  took  great  pleasure  in  ren- 
dering his  awkward  woods  companions  easy  and  at 
home.  I  well  remember  it  was  in  Mrs.  Massie's  room 
I  first  saw  tea  handed  around  for  supper,  which  I  then 
thought  foolish  business  and  still  remain  of  that  opinion. 

There  is  no  better  evidence  of  the  truth,  "  that  a  free 
people  are  capable  of  self-government,"  than  the  fact, 
that  the  first  settlers  of  this  country  transacted  their  busi- 
ness, and  discharged  the  ordinary  duties  of  life,  with  the 
greatest  decorum  and  punctuality,  without  the  interven- 
tion of  magistrates  to  enforce  laws.  It  was  expected 
that  every  one  would  act  with  due  regard  to  the  well  be- 
ing of  society,  and  whenever  any  one  was  disposed  to 
act  otherwise,  the  lovers  of  good  order  would  instantly 


66  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

put  things  to  right.  Early,  however,  in  the  year  1797, 
the  governor  of  the  northwestern  territory,  appointed 
Thomas  Worthington,  Hugh  Cochran,  and  Samuel 
Smith,  as  justices  of  the  peace  for  the  settlement  at 
Chillicothe.  The  last  mentioned  justice  transacted  the 
principal  part  of  the  judicial  business.  His  prompt  and 
decisive  manner  of  doing  business  rendered  him  very 
popular.  His  docket  could  be  understood  only  by  him- 
self. Scarcely  was  a  warrant  issued  by  him,  as  he  pre- 
ferred always  to  send  his  constable  to  the  accused  to 
bring  him  forward  to  have  prompt  justice  executed.  No 
law  book  was  of  any  authority  with  him.  He  always 
justified  his  own  proceedings  by  saying,  "  that  all  laws 
were  intended  for  the  purpose  of  enforcing  justice,  and 
that  he  himself  knew  what  was  right  and  what  was 
wrong,  as  well  as  those  who  made  the  laws,  and  that 
therefore  he  stood  in  need  of  no  laws  to  govern  his  ac- 
tions." In  civil  and  criminal  cases,  he  was  always 
prompt  in  his  decisions,  and  sometimes  amusing  in  his 
mode  of  executing  justice,  as  will  be  seen  from  the  fol- 
lowing case,  which  was  brought  under  his  cognizance. 
A  man,  by  the  name  of  "Adam  McMurdy,  cultivated  some 
ground  in  the  station  prairie  below  Chillicothe.  One 
night,  some  one  stole,  during  his  absence,  his  horse  col- 
lar. McMurdy,  next  morning,  examined  the  collars  of 
the  plowmen  then  at  work,  and  discovered  his  collar  in 
the  possession  of 'one  of  the  men  and  claimed  it  of  him. 
The  man  used  towards  him  abusive  language,  and  threat- 
ened to  whip  McMurdy  for  charging  him  with  the  theft. 
McMurdy  went  immediately  to  Squire  Smith,  and  stated 
his  case.  The  Squire  listened  until  his  story  was  told, 
and  then  despatched  his  constable  with  strict  orders  to 
bring  the  thief  and  collar  forthwith  before  him.  The 
constable  quickly  returned  bringing  with  him,  in  the  one 
hand,  the  collar,  while  with  the  other  he  grasped  tightly 
the  accused.  The  Squire  immediately  arraigned  the  ac- 


GENERAL   NATHANIEL   MASSIE.  67 

cused  in  his  court,  which  was  held  in  the  open  air,  on 
the  bank  of  the  Scioto.  It  was  then  asked  of  the  accus- 
er, how  he  could  prove  the  collar  to  be  his  ?  McMurdy 
replied,  "  If  the  collar  is  mine,  Mr.  Spear,  who  is  pre- 
sent can  testify."  Mr.  Spear  was  then  called  to  testify. 
Before  he  was  sworn,  he  came  forward  and  said,  "  that 
if  it  was  McMurdy's  collar,  he  himself  had  written  Me 
Murdy's  name  on  the  inner  side  of  the  ear  of  the  collar." 
The  Squire  turned  up  the  ear  of  the  collar,  and  found  ac- 
cordingly McMurdy's  name  written  there.  "  No  better 
proof  could  be  given,"  said  the  Squire,  and  ordered  the 
accused  to  be  immediately  tied  up  to  a  buckeye,  to  re- 
ceive five  lashes  well  laid  on,  which  was  accordingly 
done.  Thus  ended  the  case  to  the  satisfaction  of  all,  ex- 
cept the  culprit.  The  trial  did  not  occupy  five  minutes 
of  time.  Such  was  the  Squire's  summary  manner  of 
dispensing  justice.  Squire  Smith  was  an  honest  and 
impartial  man,  with  a  vigorous  and  discriminating  mind, 
always  disposed  to  do  justice  in  his  own  way. 

The  settlement  in  and  round  Chillicothe,  was,  I  be- 
lieve, the  first  made  in  peace  west  of  the  mountains. 
The  progress  of  improvement  in  the  town  and  country 
was  rapid,  and  the  country  was  soon  filled  with  a  dense 
population. 

This  was  the  second  settlement  General  Massie  had 
the  honor  of  forming  in  the  western  wilderness,  an  honor 
that  reflects  much  credit  on  him,  as  his  labors  and  en- 
ergy have  added  greatly  to  the  wealth  and  strength  of 
the  nation,  and  the  comfort  and  prosperity  of  the  people 
of  the  land.  Had  it  not  been  for  him  and  a  few  other 
daring  spirits  sent  by  Providence  to  prepare  the  way, 
our  country  might  have  remained  a  wilderness,  the  abode 
of  "  wild  beasts  and  men  more  wild  and  savage  than 
they." 

From  the  time  of  the  settlement  at  Chillicothe,  Gen. 
Massie  lived  alternately,  as  his  business  demanded  at- 


68  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

tention,  in  the  state  of  Kentucky  and  the  northwestern 
territory.  His  knowledge  of  the  situation,  the  quality, 
and  the  owners  of  land  in  the  Virginia  military  district, 
gave  him  great  advantages  as  a  speculator.  On  his  own 
account,  and  as  a  partner  of  several  land  companies 
formed  in  Virginia,  he  purchased  and  sold  a  large  quanti- 
ty of  the  most  valuable  land  in  the  district. 

In  the  year  1807,  General  Massie  and  Col.  Return  J. 
Meigs  were  competitors  for  the  office  of  governor  of 
Ohio.  They  were  the  most  popular  men  in  the  state. 
Col.  Meigs  received  a  small  majority  of  votes.  The  elec- 
tion was  contested  by  Massie  on  the  ground  that  Col. 
Meigs  was  ineligible  by  the  constitution,  in  consequence 
of  his  absence  from  the  state,  and  had  not  since  his  return 
lived  in  the  state  a  sufficient  length  of  time  to  regain  his  citi- 
zenship. The  contest  was  carried  to  the  General  Assembly, 
who  after  hearing  the  testimony,  decided  that  "  Col. 
Meigs  was  ineligible  tn  the  office,  and  that  Gen.  Massie 
was  duly  elected  governor  of  the  state  of  Ohio."  Massie, 
however  desirous  he  might  have  been  to  hold  the  office, 
was  too  magnanimous  to  accept  it  when  his  competitor 
had  a  majority  of  votes.  After  the  decision  in  his  favor 
he  immediately  resigned. 

General  Messie,  after  this  time,  represented  Ross 
county  in  the  Legislature,  as  often  as  his  leisure  from 
other  pursuits  would  admit.  In  the  year  1810,  he  re- 
signed the  office  of  Major  General  of  the  Ohio  militia. 

In  the  spring  of  the  year  1813,  when  the  British  and 
Indians  besfcged  the  army,  under  the  command  of  the 
brave  General  Harrison  in  Fort  Meigs,  the  news  of  the 
danger  with  which  our  army  was  threatened,  roused 
Massie  from  his  retreat  at  the  falls  of  Paint  creek.  Al- 
though now  getting  in  years,  a  spark  of  his  youthful 
fire  still  remained  unquenched.  As  soon  as  he  learned 
that  his  countrymen  were  in  danger,  he  shouldered  his 
rifle,  mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  to  almost  every  house 


GENERAL   NATHANIEL   MASSIE.  69 

on  Paint  creek,  urging  to  his  fellow  citizens  every  argu- 
ment that  patriotism  could  suggest  to  take  the  field  with- 
out delay,  and  relieve  our  army  from  its  perilous  situation. 
Although  he  had  no  legal  right  to  command,  this  did  not 
deter  him  from  joining  his  countrymen  in  arms.  Num- 
bers joined  him  from  Paint  creek.  With  these  he  pro- 
ceeded to  Chillicothe.  There,  likewise,  a  number  joined 
him.  There  was  no  time  to  organize,  as  delay  might  be 
fatal  to  our  countrymen,  who  were  cooped  up  in  Fort 
Meigs,  surrounded  with  thrice  their  number  of  white  and 
red  savages.  The  party  being  on  horseback  moved  ra- 
pidly to  Franklinton,  gathering  strength  as  they  went 
along.  At  Franklinton,  there  was  a  depot  of  public  arms. 
Arms  and  ammunition  were  there  distributed  to  upwards 
of  five  hundred  men,  and  Massie  was  elected  commander 
by  acclamation.  They  left  Franklinton  without  delay, 
and  as  the  men  were  all  mounted  they  dashed  ahead  as 
fast  as  their  horses  could  carry  them  to  the  scene  of  ac- 
tion. When  they  had  nearly  reached  Lower  Sandusky, 
they  were  met  by  an  express  from  General  Harrison 
with  the  news,  that  the  enemy  had  raised  the  siege  of 
Fort  Meigs  and  returned  to  Canada.  Massie  and  his 
volunteers  returned  to  Chillicothe,  where  they  disbanded 
themselves  and  returned  every  man  to  his  farm.  Thus 
ended  the  expedition,  after  the  absence  of  a  few  days. 
This  was  General  Massie's  last  act  in  public  life. 

General  Massie  still  resided  at  his  residence  at  the 
falls  of  Paint  creek,  where  he  had  erected  a  large  furnace 
for  the  purpose  of  manufacturing  iron.  He  had  just 
commenced  the  business  with  every  prospect  of  success, 
and  was  arranging  his  much  extended  land  transactions. 
He  had  been  blessed  in  the  partner  of  his  bosom,  and 
with  sons  and  daughters.  His  life  had  hitherto  been 
spent  in  toils  and  action  in  the  midst  of  danger  and  pri- 
vations, and  he  was  now  preparing  to  spend  the  evening 
of  his  days  in  a  quiet  and  happy  retirement.  We  are 


70  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE,    ETC. 

never,  "  but  always  to  be  blessed."  How  inscrutable 
are  the  ways  of  Providence  !  This  useful  man  could  not 
be  exempt  from  the  common  lot  of  humanity.  Although 
he  had  uniformly  been  one  of  the  most  healthy  of  men, 
he  was  suddenly  attacked  with  disease  which  termina- 
ted his  mortal  career.  On  the  third  day  of  November 
1813,  he  breathed  his  last  and  was  buried  on  his  farm. 

General  Massie  left  a  widow,  and  three  sons  and  two 
daughters.  These  are  all  grown,  and  occupy  a  respec- 
table rank  in  society.  They  are  just  such  children  as 
will  make  a  parent's  heart  glad;  all  industrious,  tem- 
perate and  moral. 

I  have  now  recorded  all  the  material  incidents  in  the 
life  of  this  good  and  useful  man,  so  far  as  they  have 
come  to  my  knowledge.  There  are  doubtless  many 
interesting  events  in  his  life,  during  his  residence  in 
Kentucky,  which  are  now  lost  for  ever.  His  character 
was  well  suited  for  the  settlement  of  a  new  country  ; 
distinguished,  as  it  was,  by  an  uncommon  degree  of 
energy  and  activity  in  the  business  in  which  he  was 
engaged.  His  disposition  was  ever  marked  with  liberality 
and  kindness. 

General  Massie's  private  character,  in  all  the  relations 
of  husband,  father,  and  friend,  was  worthy  of  imitation : 
but  still  it  is  not  claimed  that  he  was  "  one  of  those  fault- 
less monsters  the  world  never  saw  ;"  "  to  err  is  human,  to 
forgive  divine."  So  we  will  permit  his  frailties  to  sleep 
with  him  in  his  grave. 


[Face  7].] 


Gen.  Duncan  McArtlmr 


A  SKETCH  OF  THE  LIFE 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  McARTHUR. 


RTHUR. 


CHAPTER  I. 

GENERAL  Duncan  McArthur  was  born  on  the  14th  day 
of  January,  in  the  year  1772,  in  Duchess  county,  state 
of  New- York.  His  parents  were  natives  of  the  High- 
lands of  Scotland.  His  mother  was  of  the  Campbell 
clan,  which  is  illustrious  in  Scottish  story.  General 
Me' Arthur  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  mother  when 
quite  a  youth. 

In  1780,  he  being  eight  years  of  age,  his  father  moved 
to  the  western  frontier,  in  the  state  of  Pennsylvania. 
Our  revolutionary  war  was  then  in  progress.  All  the 
energies  of  our  citizens  were  concentrated  to  protect 
themselves  from  Indian  depredations,  and  to  win  inde- 
pendence from  foreign  oppression.  Under  these  trying 
circumstances,  subsistence  and  clothing  were  difficult  to 
be  procured,  and  schools  in  the  western  country  were  al- 
most unknown.  However,  by  the  time  he  was  twelve 
or  thirteen  years  of  age,  he  had  learned  to  read  and  write. 
Duncan  being  the  eldest  child,  was,  as  soon  as  he  was 
able  to  work,  kept  at  hard  labor,  to  aid  in  supporting  his 
father's  numerous  family  of  children.  His  father  was  in 
indigent  circumstances,  and  as  soon  as  his  crop  was  laid 
by,  Duncan  was  either  hired  out  by  the  day,  or  month, 
to  the  neighboring  farmers. 

6  71 


72  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

At  the  date  of  which  I  am  writing,  there  were  no 
wagon  roads  across  the  Alleghany  mountains.  They 
were  a  frightful  world  of  rocks  and  forests.  All  the  mer- 
chandise (and  many  articles  were  indispensable),  such  as 
powder,  lead,  salt,  iron,  pots  and  kettles,  and  above  all, 
beloved  rum,  then  used  in  western  Pennsylvania,  were 
conveyed  over  the  mountains  on  pack-horses.  McArthur, 
when  very  young,  made  frequent  trips  with  packers. 

Men  who  were  raised  in  the  western  country,  and  are 
now  over  sixty  years  of  age,  look  back  with  astonish- 
ment at  the  change  which  has  taken  place  within  their 
remembrance.  The  world,  as  they  knew  it,  has  been 
transformed.  At  that  time  it  was  almost  an  every  day 
occurrence,  to  see  a  long  line  of  pack-horses,  in  single 
file,  cautiously  wending  their  way  over  the  stupendous 
Alleghany,  on  a  path  scarcely  wide  enough  for  a  single 
horse.  When  surmounting  the  dizzy  heights,  they  often 
turned  round  the  points  of  projecting  rocks,  where  the  least 
jostle,  or  a  slip  of  the  horse's  foot,  would  have  precipitated 
it  into  the  abyss  beneath,  and  crushed  it  to  atoms.  So 
narrow  and  dangerous  were  the  passes  in  many  places, 
that  a  horse  loaded  with  bulky  articles  could  not  pass 
these  projecting  rocks,  without  first  being  unloaded.  The 
difficulties  of  the  road  were  not  the  only  danger  they  had 
to  encounter ;  the  wily  Indian  frequently  lay  in  ambush 
to  massacre  the  traveler. 

So  good  judges  were  they  of  the  easy  passes  over  the 
mountains,  that  scientific  engineers  have  selected  nearly 
the  same  tracks,  on  which  the  western  packers  passed 
with  their  brigades  of  pack  horses  in  single  file  ;  where 
now  are  constructed  turnpikes  and  railroads,  on  which 
the  traveler  glides,  or  rather  floats  along  through  air  se- 
curely, and  almost  with  the  rapid  speed  of  the  bird  of 
Jove.  Such  have  been  the  happy  results  produced  by 
the  daring  enterprise  and  useful  labors  of  the  western 
pioneers.  Notwithstanding  that  their  lives  were  con- 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    Jt'ARTHUR.  73 

tinued  scenes  of  privation,  danger,  and  patriotic  devotion 
to  their  country,  it  is  not  claimed  that  they  were  free 
from  errors.  Not  having  been  fettered  by  laws,  and 
each  one  being  the  guardian  and  avenger  of  his  own 
rights  and  wroitgs,  they  grew  up  in  a  state  of  rude  inde- 
pendence. Their  prejudices  were  strong,  their  passions 
warm,  and  they  were  frequently  hurried  into  excesses. 

"  They  were  as  free  as  nature  first  made  man, 
Ere  the  base  laws  of  servitude  began — 
When  wild  in  woods  the  noble  savage  ran." 

Their  courage  in  surmounting  danger,  their  fortitude  in 
enduring  hardships  and  privations,  their  hospitality,  their 
patriotism  and  ardor  for  fame,  were  conspicuous  in  every 
period  of  their  history. 

The  subject  of  this  narrative  grew  up  to  manhood  on 
the  western  frontier,  without  fortune,  without  the  aid  of 
friends,  without  the  advantages  of  education,  without  that 
society  which  is  essential  to  mental  improvement,  until 
he  was  considerably  advanced  in  years.  General  Mc- 
Arthur,  notwithstanding  he  saw  as  much  of  the  world, 
its  pageantry,  and  polished  society,  as  most  of  those  who 
have  filled  the  same  stations,  yet  retained  the  frank 
manners  of  the  old  backwoodsman.  His  good  sense 
always  rendered  even  his  frankness,  and  apparent  blunt- 
ness  of  manner,  not  only  acceptable,  but  agreeable.  That 
young  man  is  worthy  of  commendation,  who,  raised  in 
poverty,  and  without  education,  builds  up  a  reputation  by 
energy  and  perseverance.  It  must  be  instructive  to  the 
young  men  of  the  country,  in  a  land  where  all  must  be 
the  artificers  of  their  own  fortunes,  to  study  the  history 
and  character  of  Duncan  McArthur,  from  his  earliest 
youth  to  his  honored  old  age.  Political  honor,  and  fre- 
quently wealth,  are  the  rewards  of  energetic  devotion  to 
the  good  of  mankind.  In  early  life  McArthur  was  buried 
in  a  western  wilderness  ;  in  maturer  years  we  see  him, 
a  distinguished  military  officer  in  time  of  war,  and  a  skil- 


74  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

ful  legislator  in  time  of  peace.  The  young  men  of  our 
country,  \vho  read  the  incidents  of  his  life,  will  learn 
what  is  to  be  gained  by  industry,  energy,  and  firmness 
of  purpose.  Those  who  have  small  means,  and  few 
friends  in  their  youth,  should  not  despond  :  their  future 
destiny  depends  much  upon  themselves.  But  I  must 
return  to  my  narrative. 

In  the  year  1790,  Duncan  McArthur,  in  the  eighteenth 
year  of  his  age,  left  his  father's  house.  The  incursions 
of  the  Indians  kept  the  frontier  settlements  in  continual 
alarms,  and  all  the  force  which  the  stations  could  com- 
mand, was  constantly  kept  in  requisition  for  defense. 
The  government  of  the  United  States  was  then  under  the 
direction  of  the  great  Washington,  who  had  used  every 
means  in  his  power  to  induce  the  Indians  to  live  in  friend- 
ship with  their  white  brethren.  But  his  benevolent  ef- 
forts were  ineffectual,  and  he  determined  to  employ  a 
force  which,  if  properly  directed,  would  keep  the  savages 
in  awe.  The  command  of  the  expedition  was  conferred 
on  General  Harmar,  a  popular  soldier  of  the  revolution. 
A  requisition  was  made  on  western  Pennsylvania  and 
Kentucky  for  volunteers,  a  call  which  was  promptly 
complied  with.  Duncan  McArthur  enrolled  himself  with 
the  Pennsylvania  volunteers,  who  forthwith  sailed  down 
the  Ohio  to  Fort  Washington  (now  the  city  of  Cincin- 
nati). At  this  place  they  were  joined  by  some  regular 
troops,  and  a  regiment  of  volunteers  from  Kentucky, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Hardin. 

From  fort  Washington  the  army  proceeded  north- 
wardly, through  an  unbroken  wilderness,  carrying  their 
subsistence  with  them.  When  they  arrived  within  thirty 
miles  of  the  Indian  towns,  a  detachment  of  six  hundred 
men,  under  the  command  of  Colonel  Hardin,  were  sent 
in  advance,  with  orders  to  make  forced  marches,  and,  if 
possible,  to  surprise  the  Indians  and  destroy  their  towns 
before  they  would  have  time  to  collect  their  united  forces 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  75 

for  defense.  Our  young  adventurer  accompanied  this 
detachment.  They  proceeded  at  a  rapid  march  until 
they  arrived  at  the  towns  ;  but  the  birds  had  flown.  The 
wary  enemy  had  been  apprised  by  their  watchful  spies  of 
the  approach  of  danger,  and  had  fled  to  the  woods  and 
swamps  for  protection.  These  towns  were  situated  at 
the  junction  of  the  rivers  St.  Mary  and  St.  Joseph,  where 
fort  Wayne  was  erected,  in  1794,  by  General  Wayne. 
From  this  place  the  river  takes  the  name  of  Maumee,  or 
Miami  of  the  Lakes. 

Four  days  after  Colonel  Hardin's  detachment  took 
possession  of  these  towns,  General  Harmar  arrived  with 
the  main  army,  and  remained  several  days  on  the  ground, 
destroying  all  the  Indian  property  he  could  find.  During 
this  time  none  of  the  Indians  showed  themselves,  but 
permitted  their  towns  to  be  destroyed.  Having  com- 
pleted the  destruction  of  the  place,  General  Harmar  turned 
the  face  of  his  army  homeward,  marching  about  ten  miles 
the  first  day,  where  he  encamped  for  the  night.  He  had 
left  a  few  trusty  spies  to  linger  in  concealment  about  the 
Indian  towns,  to  observe  any  movements  which  they 
might  make.  In  the  evening  of  this  day,  these  faithful 
sentinels  discovered  a  number  of  Indians  returning  to 
their  ruined  towns.  The  spies  forthwith  retreated  to  the 
camp,  and  informed  the  general  that  the  Indians  had  re- 
turned to  their  towns. 

Upon  receiving  this  intelligence,  General  Harmar 
again  detached  Colonel  Hardin,  with  the  Kentucky  vol- 
unteers and  a  company  of  regular  troops,  to  the  Indian 
towns.  They  made  a  quick  march,  and  arrived  near  the 
towns  about  daybreak.  Before  making  the  attack,  the 
detachment  was  divided  into  two  divisions  ;  the  one  com- 
manded by  Colonel  Hardin,  the  other  by  Major  Hall. 
To  Major  Hall's  division  young  McArthur  belonged. 
Colonel  Hardin's  division  crossed  the  St.  Mary's,  and 
attacked  the  Indians.  A  severe  battle  ensued,  in  which 


76  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Hardin  was  defeated  with  considerable  loss.  Major  Hall 
fell  in  with  another  party  of  Indians  ;  a  sanguinary  battle 
was  fought,  the  Indians  were  defeated,  and  driven  several 
miles  up  the  St.  Joseph.  Major  Hall  then  returned  to 
Harmnr's  camp,  before  he  was  apprised  of  the  total  defeat 
of  Hardin.  Thus  the  horrors  of  this  severe  fight  were 
divided,  but  the  Indians  had  the  fruits  of  an  entire  victory. 

Without  making  any  further  attempts  to  gain  his  with- 
ered laurels,  Gen.  Harmar  immediately  returned  to  Fort 
Washington,  and  there  the  army  was  disbanded.  The 
Kentuckians  returned  to  their  homes,  and  the  Pennsyl- 
vanians,  in  detachments,  went  up  the  Ohio  river  in  keel- 
boats. 

On  their  return  up  the  river,  an  occurrence  took  place 
which  shows  the  energy  and  perseverance  of  our  young 
adventurer  in  his  early  life.  Between  Limestone  (now 
Maysville)  and  Massie's  station  (now  Manchester),  Mc- 
Arthur  and  another  young  man  left  the  boat  early  in  the 
morning,  and  went  back  into  the  country  to  hunt,  intend- 
ing to  head  the  boat  before  night.  The  day  was  cloudy, 
and  they  were  total  strangers  to  the  country.  They 
missed  their  direction,  and  at  night  when  they  came  to 
the  river,  they  were  lower  down  than  when  they  left 
their  company  in  the  morning.  They  stayed  that  night 
at  a  William  Brooks',  three  miles  above  Maysville. 
Their  boat  and  companions  were  one  day  in  advance, 
and  no  settlement  above  them  nearer  than  the  mouth  of 
the  Big  Kanawha,  a  distance  of  two  hundred  miles,  and 
many  streams  which  emptied  into  the  Ohio  to  cross.  In 
addition  to  these  difficulties,  the  Indians  were  constantly 
on  the  alert  to  destroy  small  parties  who  might  be  pass- 
ing up  or  down  the  Ohio  river.  These  difficulties  did 
not  deter  our  young  adventurer  from  making  the  attempt 
"  to  push  ahead,"  to  overtake  his  boat.  They  left  Mr. 
Brooks'  on  foot,  trailing  at  times  along  the  foot  of  the 
hills,  at  other  times  along  the  margin  of  the  river,  till 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  77 

they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Big  Sandy  river,  late  in  the 
evening.  This  stream  was  exceedingly  high  from  recent 
rains,  its  current  shooting  nearly  across  the  Ohio;  their 
boat  was  in  view,  and  their  companions  were  only  two 
or  three  hundred  yards  above  its  mouth.  They  hallooed 
and  called  at  the  highest  pitch  of  their  voices,  but  they 
were  not  heard  on  account  of  the  tremendous  roaring  of 
the  angry  waters.  Early  next  morning  they  had  the 
mortification  to  see  their  companions  move  off  with  their 
boat  without  them.  There  was  no  time  to  be  lost  in 
fruitless  repining,  but  with  the  perseverance  common  to 
the  backwoodsmen  of  that  time,  they  set  off  up  the  Big 
Sandy  several  miles,  where  they  constructed  a  raft,  and 
with  much  difficulty  crossed  the  river,  and  then  traveled 
as  fast  as  they  could  to  overtake  their  companions  ;  but 
their  efforts  were  ineffectual.  All  the  streams  above  Big 
Sandy  had  risen,  and  they  were  compelled  to  construct 
rafts  to  cross  them.  In  this  manner  they  were  so  much 
delayed,  that  when  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Big 
Kanawha  their  boat  had  gained  several  days  on  them. 
Here  they  gave  up  the  pursuit,  and  rested  their  weary 
bodies  a  few  days,  when  they  again  commenced  their 
toilsome  journey  on  foot  for  Wheeling,  where  they  arriv- 
ed about  the  first  of  December.  From  thence  McArthur 
returned  to  his  father's  home. 


CHAPTER  II. 

THE  energy  of  McArthur's  character  began  to  unfold 
itself  in  very  early  life.  No  danger  could  appal  him,  nor 
f.itigue  deter  him  from  the  pursuit  of  an  enterprise.  Let 
us  trace  his  early  history. 

In  1791,  he  was  elected  an  ensign  in  a  company  of 
militia,  and  received  his  commission  from  Governor 


78  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Mifflin,  of  Pennsylvania.  Every  militia  officer  in  those 
trying  times  was  expected  to  be  shortly  called  upon  to 
take  his  station  in  the  "  tented  field."  Consequently, 
the  citizens  were  generally  careful  to  select  the  best  men 
the  country  afforded.  There  is  no  doubt  that  young 
McArthur  felt  more  elated  at  that  time,  with  an  ensign's 
commission  in  his  pocket,  than  he  did  in  after  life,  when 
he  was  elected  governor  of  Ohio. 

In  1792,  he  joined,  as  a  private,  a  volunteer  company 
commanded  by  Captain  William  Enoch.  This  com- 
pany was  stationed  at  Baker's  fort,  on  the  river  Ohio, 
some  distance  below  Wheeling.  A  younger  brother  of 
Captain  Enoch  was  lieutenant  of  the  company.  Shortly 
after  their  encamping  on  the  river,  and  at  a  late  hour  in 
the  evening,  a  few  Indians  were  discovered  across  the 
river  from  the  fort,  on  the  Ohio  shore,  carelessly  walking 
about.  There  is  no  doubt  but  these  Indians  showed 
themselves  for  the  purpose  of  inviting  the  whites  across 
the  river,  and  if  they  could  succeed,  intended  to  lay  in 
ambush  and  destroy  them.  Early  the  next  morning 
Lieut.  Enoch  with  fifteen  men,  amongst  whom  was  Mc- 
Arthur, crossed  the  river  before  day.  As  soon  as  it  was 
light  enough  to  distinguish  objects  at  a  distance,  Lieut. 
Enoch  and  his  party  went  to  the  place  where  the  Indians 
had  showed  themselves  the  previous  evening,  and  found 
the  trail  of  five  or  six  Indians,  and  incautiously  pursued 
them  over  the  river  hill  to  Captina  creek,  about  one  mile 
from  the  river,  and  not  much  further  from  the  mouth  of 
the  creek.  As  the  party  of  whites  were  pursuing  the 
trail,  they  went  down  a  small  drain,  with  a  narrow  bot- 
tom. On  the  right  of  the  drain  was  a  steep,  rocky  bank, 
fifty  or  sixty  feet  high ;  on  this  bank  thirty  or  forty  In- 
dians lay  concealed.  The  whites  passed  on  till  they 
came  in  front  of  the  Indian  line,  when  a  tremendous  fire 
was  opened  upon  them ;  the  fire  was  instantly  returned 
by  Enoch  and  his  party.  Both  parties  took  shelter  be- 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  79 

hind  trees,  logs,  or  rocks,  and  the  battle  was  continued 
with  animation  on  both  sides  for  some  time.  Lieutenant 
Enoch  and  McArthur  were  treed  near  each  other,  and 
loaded  and  shot  several  times.  The  hills  along  Captina 
creek  are  steep,  high,  and  craggy,  the  valleys  narrow, 
so  that  the  keen  crack  of  the  rifles,  added  to  the  deaf- 
ening shouts  of  the  combatants,  causing  the  echo  to  vi- 
brate from  hill  to  hill,  made  it  seem  that  those  engaged  in 
this  strife  of  arms  were  fourfold  the  actual  number.  At 
length  a  ball  from  an  Indian's  rifle  pierced  the  breast  of 
the  brave  Lieut.  Enoch  ;  he  fell,  and  immediately  ex- 
pired. Six  others  of  his  little  band  were  slain,  and  some 
badly  wounded. 

Their  commander  being  killed,  and  many  of  their  gal- 
lant little  band  being  slain  or  disabled,  the  remainder  de- 
termined upon  a  retreat.  No  officer  was  left  to  com- 
mand, and  although  McArthur  was  the  youngest  man  in 
the  company,  in  this  time  of  peril  he  was  unanimously 
called  to  direct  the  retreat.  The  wounded  who  were 
able  to  walk  were  placed  in  front,  whilst  McArthur,  with 
his  Spartan  band,  covered  the  retreat.  The  moment  an 
Indian  showed  himself  in  pursuit  he  was  fired  upon,  and 
generally,  it  is  believed,  with  effect.  The  Indians  were 
so  severely  handled  in  the  fight,  that  they  soon  gave  up 
the  pursuit.  The  same  day  the  remains  of  the  brave 
Lieut.  Enoch's  command  returned  to  Baker's  fort,  the 
place  from  which  they  set  out  in  the  morning. 

In  this  engagement,  McArthur  had  several  fair  shots  ; 
a  man  of  his  steady  nerve  would  not  often  miss  his 
mark.  The  Indians  were  commanded  in  this  battle  by  a 
Shawnee  chief,  known  to  the  whites  about  Chillicothe 
by  the  name  of  Charley  Wilkey,  (the  same  who  took 
Samuel  Davis  prisoner).  He  told  the  author  of  this  nar- 
rative, that  the  battle  of  Captina  was  the  most  severe 
conflict  he  ever  witnessed  ;  that  although  he  had  the  ad- 
vantage of  the  ground  and  the  first  fire,  he  lost  the  most 


80  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

men,  half  of  them  having  been  either  killed  or  wounded. 
The  carnage  was  indeed  most  fearful,  considering  the 
small  numbers  engaged.  More  than  one  half  of  each 
party  were  killed  or  wounded.  I  have  never  seen  in 
print  any  account  of  this  severe  conflict  with  the  savage 
foe. 

McArthur's  intrepid  conduct  in  the  Captina  affair  ren- 
dered him  very  popular  with  the  frontier  men,  as  far  as 
the  account  of  this  sanguinary  conflict  extended.  Al- 
though he  had  with  equal  energy  and  boldness  discharged 
his  duty  as  a  soldier  in  the  battle  field  on  the  St.  Joseph's, 
in  the  campaign  with  General  Harmar,  yet  the  dexterity 
and  courage  of  a  private  soldier  could  not  be  so  easily 
distinguished  where  large  numbers  were  engaged. 

During  the  winter  of  1792  and  1793,  he  went  down 
the  Ohio  river  to  the  neighborhood  of  Limestone  (Mays- 
ville),  in  Kentucky,  his  restless  disposition  not  permit- 
ting him  to  tarry  long  at  the  stations,  which  were  then 
"  few  and  far  between,"  on  the  banks  of  the  Ohio.  Al- 
ternately he  engaged  in  the  laborious  avocations  of  the 
new  settlers,  or  in  the  toilsome  vocation  of  hunting  in  the 
sequestered  and  lonely  forests.  Occasionally  he  was 
employed  about  thirty  miles  above  Maysville,  at  a  salt 
lick,  one  of  those  establishments  which  were  all-impor- 
tant to  the  early  settlers  ;  and  thus  he  spent  some  portion 
of  his  early  life,  always  seeking  employment,  and  render- 
ing himself  useful  to  his  fellow  men,  and  promoting 
thereby  his  own  advancement.  We  revert  to  these  em- 
ployments of  the  earlier  part  of  young  McArthur's  life, 
with  the  full  conviction  that  no  honest  employment  is 
disreputable,  and  to  show  the  steps  by  which  industry, 
capacity  and  integrity,  may  rise  to  affluence  and  honor- 
able distinction,  from  the  most  humble  beginnings. 

At  this  salt  establishment  he  first  became  acquainted 
with  Gen.  Joseph  Vance,  who  was  then  a  mere  youth, 
but  who  labored  in  those  days  with  McArthur  in  the 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M*ARTHUR.  81 

same  vocations.  Unaided  by  patronage,  and  self-taught, 
by  the  force  of  his  own  genius,  and  by  perseverance,  he 
has  risen  from  that  humble  condition  to  competence  and 
distinction.  When  the  Indian  wars  ceased,  his  father 
settled  on  Mad  river,  near  where  the  town  of  Urbana 
was  subsequently  erected.  He  has  been  repeatedly  a 
member  of  the  general  assembly  of  this  state,  fourteen 
years  a  member  of  the  lower  house  of  congress,  and  is 
now  the  governor  of  the  state  of  Ohio.  It  is  to  sterling 
worth  that  this  tribute  of  respect  is  paid.  In  this  country, 
where  the  system  of  entails  is  cut  up  by  the  roots,  the 
persevering  poor  of  one  generation  may  become  the  rich 
of  the  succeeding  generation. 

In  the  spring  of  1793,  General  Nathaniel  Massie  was 
collecting  a  party  to  go  to  the  Scioto  country  on  a  sur- 
veying tour.  McArthur  left  the  salt  works  and  went 
with  Massie  as  a  chain  carrier,  or  marker.  Although 
this  was  a  period  of  Indian  warfare,  Massie,  and  a  party 
of  about  thirty  men,  went  up  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of 
the  river  Scioto,  and  up  the  Scioto  to  the  mouth  of  Paint 
creek.  Their  baggage  was  taken  by  water  in  canoes, 
whilst  the  surveyors  leisurely  meandered  the  Ohio  and 
Scioto  rivers,  making  occasional  surveys  as  they  went 
forward.  When  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  Paint 
creek,  they  sunk  their  canoes  in  deep  water  for  conceal- 
ment, and  went  to  work  with  spirit.  The  country  around 
where  Chillicothe  was  subsequently  laid  out,  was  sur- 
veyed, and  up  the  Scioto  as  far  as  Westfall.  Surveys 
were  also  made  up  the  north  fork  of  Paint  creek,  as  far 
as  Old  Town,  with  meeting  but  one  Indian,  who  made 
his  escape.  They  saw  in  several  places  fresh  signs 
made  by  Indians,  but  Massie  and  his  party  were  too 
vigilant  and  numerous  to  be  successfully  attacked  by  a 
few  stragglers.  The  Indians,  therefore,  sought  safety  in 
flight.  There  is  no  doubt  that  if  Massie  had  remained 
much  longer  in  that  part  of  the  country,  a  sufficient  num- 


82  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

her  of  Indians  would  have  collected  and  destroyed  them. 
But  his  party  returned  to  Manchester  after  an  absence  of 
several  weeks,  without  any  loss. 

This  bold  enterprise  of  about  thirty  men,  proceeding 
more  than  one  hundred  miles  into  the  enemy's  country, 
and  remaining  in  the  neighborhood  of  their  first  encamp- 
ment, to  survey  a  large  scope  of  country,  astonishes  us, 
and  indicates  the  recklessness  and  daring  of  the  early 
backwoodsmen. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  the  Indians  were  very  trouble- 
some to  the  frontier  settlements  along  the  Ohio  river.  The 
government  of  Kentucky  employed  spies,  or  rangers,  to 
traverse  the  frontier  country  in  every  direction,  and  to 
give  the  alarm  to  the  frontier  stations,  should  Indians  be 
found  lurking  about  their  neighborhoods.  There  was  as 
much  competition  amongst  the  bold  backwoodsmen  of 
that  day,  for  those  posts  of  honor  and  danger,  as  there  is 
now  exhibited  by  office-hunters  in  seeking  "  the  loaves 
and  fishes."  It  would  seem  that  every  age  has  some 
peculiar  events  which  answer  to  stir  up  the  passions,  and 
keep  them  in  a  state  of  excitement,  as  if  "  the  passions 
were  the  elements  of  life."  On  the  fidelity  of  these 
spies  depended  the  lives,  the  property,  and  safety  of  the 
frontier  settlements.  It  is  not  surprising,  then,  that  the 
eyes  of  all  the  citizens  were  turned  towards  the  conduct 
of  those  who  were  selected  as  sentinels,  to  watch  the 
motions  of  a  restless  and  insidious  foe.  A  young  man 
who  had  the  good  fortune  to  establish  and  maintain 
a  character  for  intrepidity  and  honesty,  was  a  special 
favorite,  not  only  with  the  men,  but  amongst  the  ladies, 
no  matter  how  rough  his  exterior,  or  uncouth  his  man- 
ners. Even  in  those  trying  times  of  Indian  hostility, 
and  the  deprivations  in  settling  a  new  country,  to  secure 
the  smiles  and  approbation  of  the  fair  was  an  object  of 
peculiar  interest  with  young  ambition. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M*  ARTHUR.  83 


CHAPTER   III. 

Duncan  McArthur  had  the  good  fortune  to  establish 
such  a  character  for  energy,  perseverance,  and  strict  in- 
tegrity, during  the  surveying  expedition  up  the  Scioto, 
that  he  was  recommended  as  a  man  well  qualified  for  the 
services  of  a  spy  or  ranger,  and  he  was  accordingly  em- 
ployed. He  and  Samuel  Davis,  with  two  others,  were 
directed  to  range  the  country  from  Limestone  to  the 
mouth  of  Big  Sandy  river,  which  is  the  extreme  eastern 
boundary  of  the  state  of  Kentucky,  and  never  was  a  trust 
confided  to  more  faithful  and  competent  sentinels.  In 
this  employment  they  remained  until  the  severity  of  the 
winter  procured  rest  to  the  settlers.  An  incident  occurred 
in  one  of  these  tours  of  duty,  worthy  to  be  related. 

When  McArthur  and  Davis  were  together,  going  up 
the  Ohio,  they  had  with  them  a  light  canoe.  One  pushed 
it  up  the  stream,  while  the  other  walked  in  advance  to 
reconnoiter.  They  stopped  for  the  night  a  short  distance 
below  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto  river.  Early  next  morn- 
ing they  crossed  the  Ohio,  and  went  back  across  the  bot- 
tom to  the  foot  of  the  hill,  where  they  knew  of  a  fine 
deer  lick.  This  lick  is  situated  about  two  miles  below 
the  town  of  Portsmouth,  and  near  the  residence  of  Judge 
Collins.  The  morning  was  very  calm,  and  a  light  fog 
hung  over  the  bottom.  When  they  got  near  the  lick, 
McArthur  halted,  and  Davis  proceeded,  stooping  low 
among  the  bushes  and  weeds,  to  conceal  himself.  He 
moved  on  with  the  noiseless  tread  of  the  cat,  till  he  was 
near  the  lick,  when  he  straightened  up  to  see  if  the 
ground  was  occupied.  At  that  instant  he  heard  the  crack 
of  a  rifle,  and  a  bullet  whistled  by  his  ear.  As  the  morn- 
ing was  still  and  foggy,  the  smoke  from  the  Indian's  gun 
settled  around  him,  so  that  he  could  not  see  whether  the 
shot  had  taken  effect  or  not.  Davis  raised  his  rifle,  and 


84  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

as  the  Indian  stepped  out  of  the  smoke  to  make  observa- 
tions, shot  him  dead.  Davis  immediately  reloaded  his 
rifle,  and  by  about  the  time  he  had  charged  his  gun,  Mc- 
Arthur  came  running  to  him,  knowing  that  the  shots  he 
had  heard  were  in  too  quick  succession  to  be  fired  by  the 
same  gun.  Running  at  the  top  of  his  speed  to  the  aid 
of  his  companion,  just  as  he  reached  the  spot  where 
Davis  stood,  they  heard  a  heavy  sound  of  footsteps,  and 
in  an  instant  more  a  number  of  Indians  made  their  ap- 
pearance in  the  open  ground  near  the  lick.  McArthur 
and  Davis  were  standing  in  thick  brush  and  high  weeds, 
and  being  unperceived  by  the  Indians,  cautiously  retreated 
to  their  canoe,  crossed  the  Ohio,  and  were  out  of  danger. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1794,  spies  were  again  employed 
to  range  through  the  country,  along  the  frontier  line  of 
stations.  On  the  line  from  Maysville  to  Big  Sandy, 
were  employed  Duncan  McArthur,  Nathaniel  Beasley 
(late  a  major-general  of  Ohio  militia,  and  frequently  a 
member  of  the  general  assembly  from  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death,  one  of  the  canal  com- 
missioners of  this  state),  Thomas  Treacle,  and  Samuel 
McDowel.  These  spies  were  generally  divided  into  two 
squads.  While  two  of  them  were  going  up  the  Ohio,  the 
others  were  coming  down.  In  this  way  they  were  con- 
tinually on  the  alert,  to  watch  the  motions  of  their  un- 
merciful enemies.  During  this  summer  the  attacks  of  the 
Indians  were  not  so  frequent,  nor  made  by  such  large 
parties  as  in  the  preceding  years,  owing  to  the  circum- 
stance of  General  Wayne  having  invaded  their  country 
with  an  overwhelming  force.  This  kept  them  in  con- 
siderable check,  but  at  the  same  time  small  parties  made 
frequent  inroads  into  the  frontier  settlements. 

This  summer,  the  government  of  the  United  States, 
for  the  first  time,  employed  men  at  the  public  charge,  to 
carry  a  mail  from  what  was  then  termed  the  old  settle- 
ment (Wheeling,  in  Virginia,  was  then  called  the  most 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  85 

western  point  of  the  old  settlement),  to  Maysville,  and 
as  far  down  the  Ohio  as  Cincinnati.  Previous  to  1794, 
when  intelligence,  either  public  or  private,  was  sought  to 
be  conveyed,  those  interested  employed  express  carriers 
at  their  individual  expense.  This  rendered  correspond- 
ence, of  every  sort,  between  the  isolated  new  settlements 
and  the  old,  very  uncertain  and  insecure.  The  mail  was 
carried  in  what  was  called  a  packet-boat.  This  boat  was 
light,  and  could  be  rowed  by  six  men  up  the  stream  at  a 
rapid  rate.  Propelling  the  packet-boat  up  the  stream  was 
the  most  laborious  and  dangerous  employment  which  can 
be  imagined.  The  Indians  were  unceasing  in  their  ef- 
forts to  destroy  small  parties  of  whites,  as  they  were 
passing  up  or  down  the  river  Ohio.  There  were  then 
but  few  places  between  Cincinnati  and  Wheeling,  for  the 
packet-boat  to  rest  at  night  in  safety.  But  such  were  the 
enterprise  and  daring  of  the  backwoodsmen,  either  on 
land  or  water,  that  they  were  ready  to  undertake  any  en- 
terprise within  the  power  of  man  to  accomplish. 

During  this  summer,  as  the  packet-boat  was  on  her 
way  up,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto,  a  party  of  Indians 
fired  into  the  boat  as  it  was  passing  near  the  shore,  and 
one  man,  John  Stout,  was  killed,  and  two  brothers  by  the 
name  of  Colvin  were  severely  wounded.  The  boat  was 
hurried  by  the  remainder  of  the  crew  into  the  middle  of 
the  stream,  and  then  returned  to  Maysville.  The  four 
"spies"  were  at  Maysville,  drawing  their  pay  and  am- 
munition, when  the  packet-boat  returned.  Notwithstand- 
ing the  recent  and  bloody  defeat  sustained  in  the  packet- 
boat,  a  fresh  crew  was  immediately  procured,  and  the 
four  spies  were  directed  by  Colonel  Henry  Lee  (who 
had  the  superintendence  and  direction  of  them)  to  guard 
the  boat  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Big  Sandy  river.  As  the 
spies  were  on  their  way  up  the  river  with  the  packet- 
boat,  they  found  concealed  and  sunk  in  the  mouth  of  a 
small  creek,  a  short  distance  below  the  mouth  of  the 


86  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Scioto,  a  bark  canoe,  large  enough  to  carry  seven  or 
eight  men.  In  this  canoe  a  party  of  Indians  had  crossed 
the  Ohio,  and  were  prowling  about  somewhere  in  the 
country.  Samuel  McDowel  was  sent  back  to  give  notice 
to  the  inhabitants,  whilst  the  other  three  spies  remained 
with  the  packet-boat  till  they  saw  it  safe  past  the  mouth 
of  Big  Sandy  river. 

At  this  place  the  spies  parted  from  the  boat,  and  com- 
menced their  return  for  Maysville.  On  their  way  up 
they  had  taken  a  light  canoe.  Two  of  them  pushed  the 
canoe,  whilst  the  others  advanced  on  foot  to  reconnoiter. 
On  their  return,  the  spies  floated  down  the  Ohio  in  their 
canoe,  till  they  came  nearly  opposite  the  mouth  of  the 
Scioto  river,  where  they  landed,  and  McArthur  went  out 
into  the  hills  in  pursuit  of  game.  Treacle  and  Beasley 
went  about  a  mile  lower  down  the  river  and  landed  their 
canoe,  intending  also  to  hunt  till  McArthur  should  come 
up  with  them.  McArthur  went  to  a  deer  lick,  with  the 
situation  of  which  he  was  well  acquainted  ;  made  a  blind 
behind  which  he  concealed  himself,  and  waited  for  game. 
He  lay  about  an  hour,  when  he  discovered  two  Indians 
coming  to  the  lick.  The  Indians  were  so  near  him  be- 
fore he  saw  them,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
retreat  without  being  discovered.  As  the  boldest  course 
appeared  to  him  to  be  the  safest,  he  determined  to  permit 
them  to  come  as  near  to  him  as  they  would,  shoot  one 
of  them,  and  try  his  strength  with  the  other.  Imagine 
his  situation.  Two  Indians  armed  with  rifles,  toma- 
hawks, and  scalping-knives,  approaching  in  these  cir- 
cumstances, must  have  caused  his  heart  to  beat  pit-a-pat. 
He  permitted  the  Indians,  who  were  walking  towards 
him  in  a  stooping  posture,  to  approach  undisturbed. 
When  they  came  near  the  lick,  they  halted  in  an  open 
piece  of  ground,  and  straightened  up  to  look  into  the  lick 
for  game.  This  halt  enabled  McArthur  to  take  deliberate 
aim  from  a  rest,  at  only  fourteen  steps  distance.  He  fired, 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  87 

and  an  Indian  fell.  McArthur  remained  still  a  moment, 
thinking  it  possible  that  the  other  Indian  would  take  to 
flight.  In  this  he  was  mistaken.  The  Indian  did  not 
even  dodge  out  of  his  track,  when  his  companion  sunk 
lifeless  by  his  side. 

As  the  Indian's  gun  was  charged,  McArthur  concluded 
it  would  be  rather  a  fearful  job  to  rush  upon  him  ;  he  there- 
fore determined  upon  a  retreat.  He  broke  from  his  place 
of  concealment,  and  ran  with  all  his  speed.  He  had  run 
but  a  few  steps,  when  he  found  himself  tangled  in  the  top 
of  a  fallen  tree  :  this  caused  a  momentary  halt.  At  that 
instant  the  Indian  fired,  and  the  ball  whistled  sharply  by 
him.  As  the  Indian's  gun,  as  well  as  his  own,  was  now 
empty,  he  thought  of  turning  round  and  giving  him  a 
fight  upon  equal  terms.  At  this  instant  several  other  In- 
dians came  in  sight,  rushing  with  savage  screams  through 
the  brush.  He  fled  with  his  utmost  speed,  the  Indians 
pursuing,  and  firing  at  him  as  he  ran.  One  of  their  balls 
entered  the  bottom  of  his  powder  horn,  and  shivered  the 
side  of  it  next  his  body  into  pieces.  The  splinters  of  his 
shattered  powder-horn  were  propelled  with  such  force 
by  the  ball,  that  his  side  was  considerably  injured,  and 
the  blood  flowed  freely.  The  ball,  in  passing  throngh 
the  horn,  had  given  him  such  a  jar,  that  he  thought  for 
some  time  it  had  passed  through  his  side.  But  this  did 
not  slacken  his  pace.  The  Indians  pursued  him  some 
distance.  McArthur,  though  not  very  fleet,  was  capable 
of  enduring  great  fatigue,  and  he  now  had  an  occasion 
which  demanded  the  best  exertion  of  his  strength.  He 
gained  upon  his  pursuers,  and  by  the  time  he  had  crossed 
two  or  three  ridges,  he  found  himself  free  from  pursuit, 
and  turned  his  course  to  the  river. 

When  he  came  to  the  bank  of  the  Ohio,  he  discovered 

Beasley  and  Treacle  in  the  canoe,  paddling  up  the  stream, 

in  order  to  keep  her  hovering  over  the  same  spot,  and  to 

be  more  conspicuous  should  McArthur  make  his  escape 

7 


88  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

from  the  Indians.  They  had  heard  the  firing,  and  the 
yelling  in  pursuit,  and  had  no  doubt  about  the  cause,  and 
had  concluded  it  possible,  from  the  length  of  time  and 
the  direction  of  the  noise,  that  McArthur  might  have  ef- 
fected his  escape.  Nathaniel  Beasley  and  Thomas 
Treacle  were  not  the  kind  of  men  to  fly  at  the  approach 
of  danger,  and  forsake  a  comrade.  McArthur  saw  the 
canoe,  and  made  a  signal  to  them  to  come  ashore.  They 
did  so,  and  McArthur  was  soon  in  the  canoe,  in  the 
middle  of  the  stream,  and  out  of  danger.  Thus  ended 
this  day's  adventures  of  the  spies  and  their  packet-boat, 
and  this  was  the  last  attack  made  by  the  Indians  upon  a 
boat  in  the  Ohio  river. 

Till  late  iu  the  fall  of  this  year  he  was  retained  in 
this  arduous  and  dangerous  employment.  At  the 
approach  of  the  winter,  and  after  the  severe  chastise- 
ment of  the  Indians  by  General  Wayne's  army,  there 
was  a  cessation  of  arms,  and  the  spies  were  discharged. 
McArthur's  disposition  was  for  constant  action.  When 
he  was  unemployed  he  was  as  restless  (to  use  one  of 
the  backwoods'  comparisons)  as  a  wild  animal  chained. 
The  winter  of  1794  and  '95  was  just  setting  in.  He 
could  choose  either  to  return  to  the  salt  lick  and  make 
salt,  or  go  to  the  woods  and  hunt  and  trap.  While  he 
was  settling  a  plan  for  his  winter  operations,  he  fell  in 
with  Mr.  George  Hardick,  an  experienced  hunter  and 
trapper,  who  was  never  at  ease  but  when  he  was  ranging 
through  the  solitary  woods.  McArthur  and  Hardick 
were  kindred  spirits,  who  never  quailed  at  danger,  or 
wearied  by  labor.  They  agreed  to  go  in  partnership  for 
a  winter  hunt.  They  made  a  light  canoe,  ammunition 
and  beaver  traps  were  procured,  and  our  adventurers  set 
off  from  Manchester,  down  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of 
the  Kentucky  river,  thence  up  the  Kentucky  river  far 
above  the  settlements.  Game  of  every  description  was 
found  in  abundance.  Deer  and  buffalo  were  killed  for 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    Itt'ARTHUR.  89 

their  tallow  and  hides.  Beaver  and  otter  were  the  prin- 
cipal game  pursued,  and  were  caught  in  considerable 
numbers.  They  went  up  the  Kentucky  river  as  far  as 
they  could  find  water  to  float  their  canoe.  About  the 
middle  of  January  the  river  froze  up,  and  they  could 
neither  move  their  canoe  backward  nor  forward.  Here 
they  built  a  close  hut,  in  which  to  secure  the  proceeds 
of  their  hunt  from  the  depredations  of  wolves  and  other 
wild  animals.  They  left  their  canoe,  peltry,  &c.,  pack- 
ed their  traps,  ammunition,  and  blankets,  on  their  backs, 
and  proceeded  up  the  main  branch  of  the  Kentucky  river, 
as  far  as  the  beaver  could  find  water  in  which  to  swim. 
In  this  way,  these  two  backwoodsmen  spent  their  winter 
in  the  midst  of  the  spurs  of  the  Cumberland  mountains, 
more  than  one  hundred  miles  from  the  habitations  of 
civilized  men.  Although  their  hunting  range  was  some- 
times on  one  side  and  sometimes  on  the  other  of  the  old 
war-path,  on  which  the  Indians  from  the  south  went  to 
visit  and  assist  their  friends  north  of  the  Ohio  river,  yet 
during  the  winter  they  saw  no  fresh  sign  of  Indians. 

As  soon  as  the  winter  broke,  and  the  ice  and  snow 
melted,  they  returned  to  their  hut,  loaded  their  canoe, 
and  leisurely  went  down  the  river,  stopping  to  trap 
wherever  they  saw  signs  of  game.  They  continued 
down  the  Kentucky  river  to  its  mouth,  thence  up  the 
Ohio  to  Cincinnati.  Here  they  disposed  of  the  proceeds 
of  their  hunt  to  some  advantage.  They  then  returned  to 
Manchester.  Look,  reader,  at  the  map  of  Kentucky, 
and  trace  the  route  of  these  men  from  Manchester  in 
Ohio,  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kentucky  river,  thence  up  the 
Kentucky  river  to  the  Cumberland  mountains,  and  you 
can  form  some  faint  idea  of  the  toils  and  labors  overcome, 
and  of  the  perseverance  of  the  old  backwoodsmen,  in 
pursuing  any  enterprise  which  once  engaged  their  at- 
tention. 

In  the  month  of  March,  1795,  he  again  went   on  a 


90  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

surveying  tour  with  General  Massie.  This  expedition 
was  subsequently  called  the  "  starving  tour,"  for  a  des- 
cription of  which  read  the  life  of  General  Massie.  On 
this  distressing  expedition  McArthur  distinguished  him- 
self for  his  patience  under  the  most  severe  privations. 
Being  strong  and  robust,  he  was  capable  of  enduring 
more  toil  than  most  men.  His  perseverance  rendered 
him  valuable  in  such  trying  circumstances.  From  this 
time  forward  his  destiny  was  closely  linked  with  that 
of  Gen.  Massie. 

During  the  summer  Gen.  Wayne  made  a  treaty  of 
peace  with  the  Indians,  and  the  prospects  of  the  white 
settlers  in  the  western  country  were  more  flattering  than 
at  any  former  period  in  their  history.  The  ground  on 
which  every  station  was  erected  in  the  western  country, 
had  been  heretofore  battle  ground.  While  working  their 
corn-patches,  sentinels  were  constantly  required  to  guard 
those  at  labor.  Notwithstanding  the  utmost  vigilance, 
many  were  shot  or  tomahawked  by  the  enemy.  Their 
steady  perseverance  had  caused  a  day  of  brighter  aus- 
pices to  break  forth.  The  red  man,  notwithstanding  "  his 
soul  is  great — his  arm  is  strong — his  battles  full  of  fame," 
with  all  his  bravery  and  stratagem,  was  compelled  to 
yield  to  his  more  civilized  neighbor.  A  new  epoch  is 
just  dawning.  The  vast  wilds  of  the  west  are  now  open 
to  emigration.  The  dense  population  east  of  the  Alle- 
ghany  mountains  are  standing  on  tip-toe,  watching  the 
issue  of  this  long  and  direful  conflict  of  arms.  At  length 
in  the  month  of  August,  1795,  from  Fort  Greenville, 
Gen.  Wayne  sends  forth  the  glad  tidings  to  the  west, 
that  peace  is  made  with  the  red  man.  No  more  sentinels 
were  necessary  to  guard  the  plowman  at  his  labor.  The 
population  east  of  the  mountains,  and  also  from  Europe, 
make  a  rush  into  the  western  wilderness,  and  a  new 
world  arises.  The  states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Mis- 
souri, and  Michigan,  now  sustaining  their  millions  of 


•«•*" 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  91 

inhabitants,  were  trophies  won  in  a  fifty  years'  war,  by 
a  few  pioneers  of  western  Pennsylvania,  western  Vir- 
ginia, and  Kentucky.  The  nation  owes  a  debt  of  grati- 
tude to  the  men,  whose  march  was  in  the  van  in  those 
trying  times.  Their  memories  should  be  held  in  vener- 
ation by  the  millions  who  now  reap  in  peace  and  quiet 
the  fruits  of  their  toil  and  labor. 


CHAPTER  IV. 

A  LARGE  district  of  country  had  been  ceded  by  the 
Indians,  at  the  treaty  of  Greenville.  The  backwoods- 
men, who  had  spent  a  great  part  of  their  lives  in  the 
front  of  the  war  by  which  these  lands  were  acquired, 
believed  the  country  of  right  belonged  to  the  conquerors. 
In  consequence  of  this  opinion,  during  the  winter  of 
1795-96  they  poured  into  the  newly  acquired  territory 
by  thousands ;  each  endeavoring  to  select  the  most  ad- 
vantageous site  for  a  farm,  on  which  they  could  pass  the 
evening  of  their  days  in  peace  and  quiet.  Parties  of 
explorers  would  sometimes  meet  with  others  on  the 
same  errand,  on  some  inviting  tract  of  first-rate  land ; 
quarrels  would  ensue,  about  priority  of  discovery  and 
improvement,  which  frequently  ended  in  battles,  and 
sometimes  in  the  death  of  some  of  the  parties.  During 
this  winter,  McArthur  made  tomahawk  improvements  in 
many  of  the  finest  bottoms  on  the  east  side  of  the  Scioto 
river.  This  pleasing  dream  of  wealth  was  of  short  du- 
ration :  the  pioneers  soon  discovered  they  had  no  favors 
to  expect,  for  conquering  and  defending  the  country. 
They  were  generally  poor,  did  not  understand  farming 
for  profit,  and  were  entirely  unacquainted  with  trade  and 
traffic ;  and  when  peace  came,  they  were  far  behind  the 
new  emigrants,  who  settled  among  them,  in  all  the  arts 


92  A  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

which  distinguish  civilized  life.  The  old  backwoodsmen 
were  strangers  to  the  various  arts  of  making  money : 
hunting,  trapping,  and  war  was  their  trade ;  and  before 
they  could  change  their  habits  and  customs  to  the  new 
order  of  things  which  a  state  of  peace  brought  about, 
they  found  themselves  elbowed  out  of  the  way  by  the 
more  wealthy  and  dexterous  emigrants. 

Duncan  McArthur,  while  engaged  on  the  numberless 
surveying  tours  with  General  Massie,  would  sometimes 
settle  the  compass  to  the  proper  course,  and  sometimes 
would  be  permitted  to  run  lines  ;  in  this  way  he  became 
familiar  with  the  face  of  the  compass.  Being  then  in 
the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  he  went  to  school  a 
few  weeks,  and  studied  arithmetic,  till  he  mastered  the 
rule  of  Three.  He  then  exchanged  his  rifle,  his  beaver 
traps,  and  other  hunting  accouterments,  for  a  surveyor's 
instruments,  determined  at  least  to  learn  the  practical 
part  of  surveying.  This  was  a  new  and  hopeful  era  in 
his  life. 

Duncan  McArthur  studied  surveying  about  as  long  as 
the  illustrious  Patrick  Henry  is  represented  to  have 
studied  law,  and  with  the  same  intuitive  success. 
Neither  knew  but  little  of  the  theory  of  their  professions 
when  they  commenced  their  career,  yet  both  excelled  in 
their  vocations.  Mr.  Henry  was  an  unrivaled  orator,  and 
only  a  theoretic  statesman,  and  from  indolence  was  un- 
versed in  the  details  of  legislation.  General  McArthur 
was  no  orator,  but  by  his  habits  of  close  investigation 
and  persevering  industry,  he  was  a  competent  surveyor, 
and  a  practical  statesman,  understanding  the  wants  and 
the  condition  of  the  people,  and  pursuing  that  course  in 
his  public  career,  best  calculated  to  promote  their  inter- 
ests and  happiness. 

Duncan  McArthur's  ambition  would  have  been  com- 
pletely gratified  at  this  period  of  his  life,  could  he  have 
then  acquired  a  competent  estate  in  lands,  free  from  in- 


GENERAL   DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  93 

cumbrance,  on  which  he  could  live  in  a  state  of  inde- 
pendence. How  little  we  know  what  would  be  our  feel- 
ings and  conduct  under  a  change  of  circumstances. 
Having  now  a  surveyor's  compass,  he  was  prepared  to 
become  an  assistant  surveyor  to  the  first  who  would  fur- 
nish him  employment. 

General  Nathaniel  Massie  was  a  man  of  enterprise, 
largely  engaged  in  locating  warrants  and  surveying  lands. 
An  assistant  surveyor  of  McArthur's  energy  and  perse- 
verance was,  to  General  Massie,  an  invaluable  acquisi- 
tion. He  soon  became  a  competent  and  skilful  surveyor. 
At  no  period  of  his  life  did  he  possess  a  very  sprightly 
and  active  mind ;  but  although  his  conceptions  were 
slow,  what  he  once  acquired  he  never  lost.  In  whatever 
business  he  engaged,  he  was  distinguished  for  an  untiring 
diligence,  and  an  energy  that  never  yielded  to  difficul- 
ties. 

In  February,  1796,  General  McArthur  was  married  to 
Nancy,  daughter  of  William  and  Effie  McDonald,  and 
sister  to  the  author  of  this  narrative. 

In  the  month  of  March,  in  this  year,  General  Massie 
was  preparing  and  engaging  a  party  to  make  a  new  set- 
tlement somewhere  in  the  fertile  valley  of  the  Scioto 
river.  The  inducements  held  out  by  Massie,  to  encour- 
age emigrants  to  follow  him  into  the  wilderness,  were  an 
in-lot  and  an  out-lot  in  the  new  town,  which  he  intended 
to  lay  out,  and  one  hundred  acres  of  land  for  eighty 
dollars.  A  numerous  party,  principally  from  Kentucky, 
collected  at  Manchester.  Some  of  them  went  by  water 
in  canoes,  taking  with  them  plows,  hoes,  axes,  &c.,  &c. 
The  residue  of  the  party  went  by  land,  with  their  horses, 
to  meet  those  who  went  by  water,  at  the  mouth  of  Paint 
creek.  They  met  at  that  point ;  and  the  site  on  which 
Chillicothe  was  erected,  was  selected  for  the  new  town. 
The  town  was  laid  out  into  lots,  and  all  went  to  work 
with  spirit.  This  was  the  first  settlement  made  in  the 


94  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

western  country  in  peace.     It  was  a  new  era  in  their 
lives. 

McArthur,  now  an  assistant  surveyor  to  General 
Massie,  aided  him  in  laying  out  the  town  of  Chillicothe  ; 
and  whilst  thus  engaged,  Massie  employed  him  for  one 
year,  for  one  in-lot  and  one  out-lot  in  Chillicothe,  and 
one  hundred  and  fifty  acres  of  land  in  the  vicinity.  This 
land  soon  became  the  residence  of  General  McArthur; 
and  to  this  small  tract,  others  were  soon  added  by  indus- 
try and  economy,  and  form  the  delightful  residence  of 
the  general  yet,  so  well  known  as  "  Fruit  Hill." 

The  present  appearance  and  beauty  of  this  residence, 
is  such  as  to  command  the  admiration  of  all  the  lovers 
of  beautiful  scenery. 

Much  information  was  derived  by  McArthur  from  his 
skilful  and  experienced  employer,  and  he  derived  all  that 
an  assistant  surveyor  could  from  a  constant  inspection 
and  examination  of  Massie's  plats  and  connections  of  this, 
then,  new  country.  This  year  the  contract  of  McArthur 
and  Massie  was  fulfilled,  to  the  mutual  satisfaction  of 
both  parties. 

McArthur  having  located  himself  in  a  cabin,  on  his 
land  thus  acquired,  commenced  the  business  of  locating 
and  surveying  Virginia  military  warrants,  on  his  own 
account.  He  was  unable  to  progress  with  any  extraor- 
dinary rapidity,  in  the  first  stages  of  his  business,  but 
only  proceeded  industriously  and  slowly,  like  most 
young  men,  in  the  business  which  he  had  selected  for 
himself.  Having,  at  this  time,  but  a  slight  knowledge 
of  books,  and  exhibiting  in  his  manners  the  unpolished 
backwoodsman,  it  was  not  until  after  some  slight  expe- 
rience and  labor  in  his  new  vocation,  obtained  him  a 
reputation  for  promptitude  and  unquestionable  capacity 
in  the  discharge  of  the  important  duties  of  a  locator 
of  warrants  in  the  Virginia  Military  District,  that  he 
acquired  the  confidence  of  holders  of  warrants,  then  con- 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  95 

stantly  visiting  this  region  of  country.  But  he  soon 
acquired  a  reputation  equal  to  any  in  this  business, 
and  combining  with  it  the  purchase  and  sale  of  warrants 
and  land  himself,  he  soon  began  to  reap  the  rewards  of 
industry  and  perseverance,  in  the  acquisition  of  property, 
and  in  establishing  a  decided  character,  as  a  man  of 
business,  and  most  competent  locator  and  surveyor. 

In  1798,  after  Ross  county  was  organized,  he  was  ap- 
pointed and  commissioned  a  captain  in  the  militia,  by 
Governor  St.  Clair. 

McArthur  continued  his  land  business  with  his  wonted 
industry.  Fortune  favored  his  efforts,  and  with  his  ac- 
quisitions of  property,  he  acquired  a  popularity  equal  to 
any  of  those,  who  had  been  favored  with  an  early  edu- 
cation and  patronage.  He  was  now  largely  engaged  in 
land  speculations,  and  used  all  the  means  within  his 
power,  to  inform  himself  in  the  land  laws  of  Virginia 
and  Kentucky.  His  entries  and  surveys  were  made  so 
special  and  correctly,  that  few,  if  any,  of  them  could  be 
interrupted  or  interfered  with.  Notwithstanding  his  care 
and  precaution  in  this  business,  he  had  to  cope  with 
many  men  of  unsurpassed  energy  and  unquestioned 
capacity,  and  who,  anxious,  like  himself,  to  promote 
their  interests  by  every  laudable  and  legal  means,  have 
had  with  him  much  litigation.  Controversies  relative  to 
land  and  land  titles,  have  given  him  an  immense  deal  of 
trouble,  vexation,  and  litigation.  This  has  tended  to 
impair  his  good  opinion  of  mankind,  and  somewhat  al- 
loyed his  happiness,  but  his  success  was  as  signal  and 
general  as  he  could  have  expected. 

Having  acquired  more  wealth  than  any  of  his  fellow 
citizens  in  the  Scioto  valley,  he  began  to  take  an  active 
part  in  the  politics  of  the  country.  Gen.  Massie  was 
then  one  of  the  most  popular  men  in  Ross  county.  He 
admired  McArthur  for  his  persevering  industry,  and  close 
application  to  business  ;  and  was  upon  all  occasions  his 


96  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

supporter  and  friend.  In  1805,  he  was  a  candidate  for 
the  House  of  Representatives  in  the  General  Assembly 
of  Ohio ;  and  as  all  the  old  pioneers  were  his  personal 
friends  and  supporters,  he  was  elected  triumphantly,  not- 
withstanding the  violent  opposition  of  many  settlers  of 
talents  and  capacity  about  Chillicothe. 

I  have  now  sketched  his  character  from  his  boyhood, 
as  a  packer  across  the  Alleghany  mountains — a  private 
soldier — a  salt  boiler — a  hunter  and  trapper — a  spy  on 
the  frontier — a  chain-carrier — a  surveyor — and  now  a 
member  of  the  legislature  of  Ohio.  In  every  situation 
in  which  he  was  placed,  he  endeavored  to  lead  those 
with  whom  he  was  associated.  He  was  now  placed  in 
a  situation  of  a  new  kind,  and  which  required  acquisi- 
tions of  a  different  character  from  those  he  already  pos- 
sessed. To  attain  these,  he  devoted  himself  to  study. 
Not  content  to  be  a  silent  and  passive  member  of  the 
legislature,  he  soon  exhibited  his  capacity  for  his  new 
station  and  was  heard  with  attention  and  respect,  when- 
ever any  subject  was  discussed  in  which  he  felt  a  pecu- 
liar interest. 

He  became,  unquestionably,  the  most  popular  man  in 
Ross  county,  and  continued  to  represent  this  county  in 
the  legislature,  as  often  as  his  other  avocations  would 
permit.  He  was  exceedingly  popular  with  the  members 
of  the  General  Assembly,  as  is  evidenced  by  his  being 
elected  speaker,  to  preside  over  the  deliberations  of  that 
branch  of  the  General  Assembly  of  which  he  was  a 
member. 

In  1806,  he  was  elected  Colonel  of  the  first  Regiment, 
second  brigade,  second  division  of  Ohio  militia.  This 
division  was  then  under  the  command  of  his  old  and  tried 
friend  Gen.  Nathaniel  Massie. 

When  the  United  States  had  purchased  Louisiana  from 
France,  it  was  rumored  that  Spain  would  refuse  to  sur- 
render the  possession  of  the  country  to  the  United  States, 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  97 

agreeably  to  her  compact  with  France.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances, Congress  authorized  the  President  of  the 
United  States  to  raise  a  sufficient  number  of  Volunteers, 
to  take  forcible  possession  of  Louisiana,  in  case  Spain 
should  refuse  peaceably  to  surrender  the  country.  On 
this  subject  intense  interest  and  excitement  prevailed  in 
the  western  country.  It  was  there  our  trade  must  cen- 
ter. To  be  deprived  of  the  advantage  of  this  out-let  for 
trade,  the  mouth  of  the  Mississippi  river,  would  it  was 
supposed  completely  ruin  the  prospects  of  the  western 
farmers.  The  stale  of  Ohio  was  called  upon  to  furnish 
her  quota  of  men  to  be  in  readiness  to  march,  to  move 
on  New  Orleans,  when  required.  When  the  call  was 
made  on  the  second  division  of  the  Ohio  militia,  the 
Scioto  valley,  although  its  population  was  sparse,  furnish- 
ed a  full  regiment  of  men.  The  company  officers  of  the 
regiment  assembled  in  Chillicothe,  and  unanimously 
elected  Duncan  McArthur  to  the  command  of  the  regi- 
ment. Happily  for  the  country,  these  troops  were  not 
called  into  service.  The  extensive  country  of  Louisiana 
was  obtained,  and  peaceable  possession  given,  through 
the  wise  and  moderate  measures  of  President  Jefferson. 

During  the  session  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1807 
-8,  General  Massie  resigned  his  commission  as  Major 
General  of  militia,  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  His  office  being 
vacant,  the  General  Assembly  elected  Duncan  McArthur, 
who  was  commissioned  Major  General  of  the  second 
division  of  Ohio  militia,  on  the  twentieth  day  of  February 
A.  D.  1808. 


98  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 


CHAPTER  V. 

IN  the  spring  of  1812,  the  difficulties  which  had  been 
long  increasing,  between  the  United  States  and  the  Eng- 
lish nation  were  drawing  to  a  crisis.  The  British  had 
so  long,  and  so  wantonly,  vexed  our  commerce  by  re- 
strictions, confiscations,  and  impressing  our  seamen, 
that  they  had  completely  exhausted  the  patience  of  the 
country.  In  consequence  of  the  many  vexations  prac- 
tised by  that  government  upon  our  commerce  and  citi- 
zens, Congress  authorized  the  President  of  the  United 
States  to  enroll  and  organize  a  number  of  volunteers,  to 
hold  themselves  in  readiness  for  marching  at  the  shortest 
notice.  McArthur,  now  a  major  general  of  militia,  is- 
sued orders  for  his  division  to  assemble  by  regiments, 
to  see  how  many  men  would  enroll  themselves  to  march 
in  the  defence  of  the  country,  and  to  redress  the  wrongs 
which  our  citizens  had  suffered.  He  attended  in  person 
every  regimental  muster  in  his  division,  employing  every 
argument  in  his  power,  which  might  induce  his  fellow- 
citizens  to  take  the  field.  A  sufficient  number  enrolled 
themselves  to  form  a  regiment.  They  were  immediately 
organized  into  companies.  McArthur  enrolled  himself 
as  a  private  in  a  company  raised  in  Chillicothe,  com- 
manded by  Captain  William  Keys. 

As  soon  as  the  companies  were  organized,  they  had  or- 
ders to  march  to  Dayton,  the  place  of  general  rendezvous 
for  the  volunteers  of  Ohio.  Here  they  were  organized  into 
battalions  and  regiments.  The  company  officers,  agree- 
ably to  the  laws  of  the  state  of  Ohio,  proceeded  to  elect 
their  majors.  Gen.  James  Denny  of  Circleville  was 
elected  to  command  the  first  battalion,  and  Mr.  William 
Trimble  of  Highland  county  was  elected  to  command 
the  second  battalion.  The  company  officers  and  majors 
immediately  went  into  an  election  for  a  colonel  to  com 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  99 

mand  the  regiment ;  when  on  counting  the  ballots,  Mc- 
Arthur  received  the  unanimous  vote  of  the  officers  of 
the  regiment,  and  was  accordingly  commissioned  Colonel 
of  the  first  regiment  of  Ohio  volunteers,  on  the  7th  of 
May,  1812. 

Two  other  regiments  of  volunteers  were  enrolled  in 
the  state  of  Ohio,  and  rendezvoused  at  the  same  time 
and  place.  The  one  was  commanded  by  Col.  Lewis 
Cass,  the  other,  by  Col.  James  Findlay  of  Cincinnati. 
To  these  volunteer  regiments,  was  added  the  fourth  regi- 
ment of  United  States  infantry,  commanded  by  Colonel 
James  Miller.  These  troops,  when  united,  were  placed 
under  the  command  of  Brigadier  General  William  Hull 
of  the  United  States  army.  Gen.  Hull  had  been  a  sol- 
dier of  some  distinction  in  the  war  of  the  Revolution. 
James  Taylor  of  Newport,  Kentucky,  was  appointed 
Pay,  and  Quarter  Master  General. 

Our  country  had  been  so  long  blessed  with  peace,  that 
organizing  and  equipping  an  army  was  new  to  the  offi- 
cers. The  necessary  camp  equipage  to  prepare  the  army 
for  marching  was  slowly  procured.  This  army  of  about 
eighteen  hundred  men,  were  camped  in  the  environs  of 
Dayton,  till  some  time  in  June,  before  they  were  pre- 
pared to  set  forward  on  their  march. 

From  Dayton  to  Manary's  Block-house  (now  Belle- 
fontaine)  there,  was  something  like  a  wagon  road  for  the 
army  to  march  on^  This  was  then  the  most  northwardly 
settlement  in  the  state  of  Ohio.  From  Manary's  Block- 
house to  Detroit  was  one  unbroken  wilderness  ;  a  part 
of  the  way  without  even  a  foot-path.  The  country  is 
remarkably  level,  intersected  with  swamps,  marshes,  and 
rivers.  No  provisions  had  been  previously  laid  up 
by  the  government  in  advance  of  the  army.  They  were 
compelled  to  carry  their  subsistence  and  forage  in  wa- 
gons. The  road  was  to  be  made  through  the  thick 
forests.  Bridges  were  to  be  constructed  over  the  marshy, 


100  A  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

spongy  ground,  where  none  but  the  solitary  red,  or  white, 
hunter,  or  the  Indian  trader  with  his  Canadian  ponies 
had  ever  passed.  The  energy  and  perseverance  of  the 
Ohio  volunteers  overcame  all  the  difficulties  placed  by 
nature  in  their  way. 

Although  war  was  not  declared,  the  signs  of  the  times 
were  such,  that  the  secretary  of  war  sent  an  express  rider 
after  General  Hull,  with  orders  for  him  to  hasten  his 
march  with  all  possible  expedition  to  Detroit. 

General  Hull  employed  through  the  recommendation 
of  General  McArthur,  the  most  efficient  men  for  pilots. 
These  guides  were,  first,  Mr.  Isaac  Zane  (brother  to 
Col.  Zane  of  Wheeling)  who  was  then  an  old  man.  He 
had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians,  when  quite  a 
youth  ;  he  had  married  an  Indian  woman,  and  raised  a 
numerous  family.  He  had  lived  near  the  head  of  Mad 
river,  (where  Zanesfield  now  stands,)  about  fifty  years ; 
and  had  been  passing  through  the  country  to  Detroit 
almost  every  year,  either  on  hunting  or  trading  ex- 
peditions. No  man  could  be  better  acquainted  with  the 
localities  and  features  of  the  country.  A  Mr.  McPher- 
son,  an  old  Indian  trader  and  a  man  of  vigorous  mind, 
who  had  been  passing  through  the  country,  for  upwards 
of  twenty  years,  on  similar  business  with  Zane,  was 
another ;  and  Mr.  Robert  Armstrong,  who  had  been  taken 
prisoner  by  the  Indians  when  a  child,  and  raised  by 
them,  was  also  selected.  He  had  married  a  daughter  of 
Mr.  Zane,  and  was  acquainted  with  every  spot  of  ground 
between  Manary's  block-house  and  Detroit.  To  these 
was  added  Mr.  James  L.  Reed,  an  Indian  trader  for  many- 
years,  and  who,  in  his  frequent  travels  to  and  fro,  through 
the  country,  between  Mad  river  and  Detroit,  was  well 
acquainted  with  every  marsh  and  swamp  in  the  country. 
With  these  efficient  men  for  pilots,  the  army  commenced 
its  march,  with  a  numerous  train  of  wagons.  The 
making  a  new  road  through  a  wilderness  country,  inter- 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  101 

acrsed  with  rivers,  marshes,  and  swamps,  where  few 
civilized  men  had  ever  passed,  was,  in  itself,  an  enter- 
prise of  considerable  magnitude. 

The  army  went  forward,  till  it  arrived  at  Manary's 
block-house,  then  the  outward  settlement  of  Ohio.  From 
this  point  north,  a  road  was  to  be  constructed.  Colonel 
McArthur  and  his  regiment  went  in  advance,  to  make  the 
road.  The  arms,  and  other  accouterments,  belonging  to 
the  regiment,  were  carried  in  wagons.  The  guides  went 
forward,  and  with  tomahawks  marked  the  way.  Me 
Arthur  divided  his  regiment  by  companies,  and  gave  each 
company  a  distance  of  the  road  to  make,  in  proportion 
to  their  numbers.  Axes,  grubbing-hoes,  spades,  and 
shovels,  were  provided ;  and  the  regiment  went  to  work 
with  spirit.  McArthur,  accustomed  to  hard  labor  and  a 
life  in  the  woods  from  his  youth,  was  perfectly  at  home 
while  constructing  the  road  through  the  wilderness.  He 
showed  the  men,  by  his  own  example,  that  he  was  de- 
termined to  do  as  much  labor  as  was  required  of 
any  of  them.  No  difficulties  discouraged  him.  By  his 
example  and  encouragement,  he  excited  such  enthusiasm 
in  both  officers  and  privates,  that  every  man  worked  as 
though  the  completion  of  the  road  depended  on  his  single 
arm.  He  excited  emulation  amongst  the  companies, 
each  endeavoring  to  do  more  than  the  others.  With  his 
regiment  he  constructed  a  road  from  Manary's  block- 
house to  Fort  McArthur,  a  point  on  the  Scioto  river,  in 
two  days ;  a  distance  of  thirty  miles.  It  is  probable 
that  more  labor  was  performed  in  those  two  days,  than 
ever  was  done  in  the  same  time  by  the  same  number  of 
men. 

Colonel  McArthur's  regiment  was  relieved,  and  the 
other  regiments  now  in  turn  went  in  advance,  to  construct 
the  road.  Notwithstanding  there  was  rain  almost  every 
day,  there  was  no  skulking  or  dodging :  every  regiment 
used  all  the  exertions  that  were  in  the  power  of  man,  to 
8 


102  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

forward  the  work.  There  was  probably  as  much  talent 
and  ambition  in  this  little  army,  as  was  ever  collected  in 
one  mass  of  equal  numbers.  Animation,  enterprise, 
ambition,  and  emulation,  concurred  to  enhance  the  pro- 
gress of  this  determined  band.  Here  was  Colonel  James 
Miller,  of  the  fourth  regiment  of  United  States  infantry  : 
a  man  of  as  cool,  intrepid  courage,  as  ever  drew  a  blade 
to  glitter  in  the  sun.  And  Colonel  Lewis  Cass,  who, 
though  naturally  of  a  good  humored  and  indolent  temper, 
would,  when  roused  by  emulation  or  danger,  do  all  that 
man  could  be  expected  to  do.  There  was  Colonel  James 
Findlay  too,  who,  though  usually  dilatory,  was  now  ex- 
cited by  patriotism  and  ambition,  to  use  every  effort  to 
outstrip  the  subject  of  this  narrative.  He-  had  no  supe- 
rior in  his  energy  and  decision,  when  stimulated,  as  he 
now  was,  by  the  call  of  his  country,  and  competing 
with  such  men  as  Cass  and  McArthur  in  his  country's 
service. 

To  show  that  it  was  not  a  mere  flash  of  popularity, 
which  placed  these  gentlemen  in  the  command  of  regi- 
ments, it  is  only  necessary  to  point  to  their  services  in 
their  subsequent  career.  In  the  tremendous  battle  near 
the  Falls  of  Niagara,  it  was  Colonel  Miller  who  com- 
manded the  successful  assault,  with  the  point  of  the 
bayonet,  which  took  possession  of  the  British  artillery. 
He  was  promoted  to  the  rank  of  brigadier-general,  and 
as  such,  when  the  war  closed,  was  retained  in  the  peace 
establishment  of  the  army ;  and  subsequently  appointed 
governor  of  Arkansas  territory. 

Colonel  Findlay  was  a  citizen  of  Cincinnati,  and  had 
long  possessed  the  confidence  of  the  government,  as  well 
as  of  his  fellow-citizens.  When  peace  blessed  our  land 
with  her  smiling  presence,  he  was  elected  a  member  of 
congress.  He  was  an  efficient  member  of  that  body, 
always  acting  independently,  without  permitting  himself 
to  be  trammeled  by  the  intrigues  of  party.  A  little  more 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR      '»     103 

than  a  year  since,  he  was  commanded  by  the  Judge  of 
the  universe,  to  render  an  account  of  his  stewardship. 
It  is  believed,  by  those  who  knew  him  well,  that  his 
vouchers  will  be  found  genuine,  and  that  no  defalcations 
will  be  found  against  him. 

Colonel  Cass  was  subsequently  appointed  a  brigadier- 
general  in  the  United  States  army  ;  and  when  peace  was 
made,  he  was  appointed  governor  of  Michigan  territory. 
He  recently  filled  the  office  of  secretary  of  war,  and  now 
is  our  minister  plenipotentiary  at  France. 

The  two  majors  of  Colonel  Me  Arthur's  regiment, 
were  men  who  could  be  relied  on  in  all  situations. 
Major  Denny,  of  the  first  battalion,  was  a  gentleman  of 
talents  and  unquestioned  courage.  He  was  frequently 
elected  a  member  of  the  legislature,  clerk  of  the  county 
and  supreme  courts,  and  also  a  major-general  of  militia. 
He  has  long  since  pass'ed  "  the  bourn  whence  no  trav- 
eler returns."  He  was  buried  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia. 

Major  Trimble,  of  the  second  battalion,  was  a  young 
man  of  much  promise.  He  was  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  colonel  in  the  United  States  army ;  and  when  the  war 
ended,  he  was  retained  on  the  peace  establishment  of  the 
army.  He  was  subsequently  elected  a  senator  in  the 
congress  of  the  United  States,  by  the  general  assembly 
of  Ohio.  His  public  career  was  of  short  duration.  He 
had  received  a  severe  wound  in  the  battle  of  Fort  Erie ; 
from  the  effects  of  which  he  never  recovered,  and  which 
no  doubt  sent  him  prematurely  to  his  grave. 

Colonel  Me  Arthur  appointed  for  the  staff-officers  of 
his  regiment,  the  following  persons,  viz.  William 
Henry  Puthuff,  Adjutant;  Richard  Douglas,  Quarter 
Master. 

Adjutant  Puthuff  was  a  man  of  talents  and  education, 
and  unquestioned  bravery ;  very  energetic  and  punctilious 
in  the  performance  of  his  duty ;  and  in  exacting  the  sub- 
ordinatio  n  of  others.  He  has  long  since  paid  the  debt 


104  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

of  nature ;  and  now  lies  buried  on  the  banks  of  Lake 
Michigan. 

The  quarter-master  was  a  man  of  eccentric  genius  and 
of  singular  humor.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Ohio 
legislature,  and  is  now  a  practising  lawyer  of  distinguished 
eminence. 

The  humble  author  of  this  narrative  received  the 
appointment  of  paymaster  to  the  regiment.  Of  his 
character  and  actions  it  would  be  improper  for  him  to 
speak.  Suffice  it  to  say,  that  he  served  in  the  army,  in 
various  situations,  to  the  close  of  the  war,  free  from 
censure.  This  circumstance  is  only  referred  to,  to  show 
how  he  came  by  a  knowledge  of  the  men  and  things 
of  which  he  writes.  Having  endeavored  to  do  his  duty 
in  the  army,  he  is  now  attempting  to  record,  for  the 
gratification  of  posterity,  the  characters  and  actions  of 
men,  who  risked  their  lives  in  defence  of  their  country. 

I  will  now  return  from  this  digression  to  the  army. 
The  army  went  forward  without  making  a  halt,  till  they 
arrived  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  of  the  Maumee.  Here 
one  day  of  repose  was  allowed  the  soldiers,  to  rest  their 
weary  limbs.  The  march  was  again  resumed,  with 
renewed  vigor.  On  their  march,  between  the  Maumee 
and  the  river  Raisin,  an  express  rider  from  the  secretary 
of  war,  came  up  with  the  army,  with  official  intelligence, 
that  congress  had  declared  war.  This  official  news  put 
the  army  out  of  suspense.  They  now  knew  that  they 
would  soon  be  engaged  in  very  different  labor  than  in 
constructing  roads.  The  army  went  on  at  a  rapid  pace, 
passed  the  river  Raisin,  and  went  on  till  they  came  to 
the  river  Huron.  This  river  was  so  deep,  that  it  could 
not  be  forded  with  the  numerous  train  of  wagons.  It  is 
nearly  three  hundred  feet  over,  and  it  was  necessary  to 
construct  a  bridge.  The  bridge  was  erected  in  one  day, 
and  by  night  the  army  and  baggage  were  safely  across 
the  river,  and  camped  for  the  night  on  the  north  bank 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          105 

of  the  river  Huron.  The  bridge  was  nearly  a  mile  from 
lake  Erie.  Late  in  the  evening  of  this  day,  the  enemy's 
brig,  Queen  Charlotte,  came  sweeping  up  the  lake,  and 
hovered  about  the  mouth  of  the  river  Huron,  to  make 
observations  on  the  movements  of  our  army.  When 
daylight  returned,  the  Queen  Charlotte  was  not  to  be 
seen.  The  army  resumed  its  march,  and  that  evening, 
the  fifth  of  July,  arrived  at  Detroit,  the  place  of  their 
destination.  Here  a  few  days  of  repose  was  allowed  the 
weary  soldiers. 


CHAPTER  VI. 

THE  artillery,  which  lay  in  the  fort  and  batteries  in 
and  around  Detroit,  were  in  the  worst  possible  condition. 
The  gun  carriages  were  old  and  decayed,  and  in  every 
respect  unfit  for  immediate  use.  The  artificers  were  set 
to  work  to  repair  the  artillery  carriages ;  every  means  in 
the  power  of  man  was  exerted,  to  place  the  army  in  a 
situation  to  march  upon  Fort  Maiden,  only  eighteen  miles 
distant.  Repose  and  inaction  did  not  suit  the  enterprising 
character  of  General  Hull's  field  officers.  The  unavoid- 
able delay  in  preparing  the  artillery  for  effective  service, 
appeared  like  eternity  to  the  fiery  spirits  under  the  com- 
mand of  General  Hull.  Among  the  most  impatient  and 
restless  at  this  delay,  was  McArthur.  He  urged  General 
Hull  to  cross  the  river  Detroit  with  the  army,  and  attack 
Fort  Maiden  without  delay ;  insisting  that  the  present 
was  the  auspicious  moment  to  carry  the  fort ;  that  the 
garrison  consisted  only  of  a  few  regular  troops  and  some 
Canadian  militia;  that,  from  unquestioned  information, 
the  walls  of  the  fort  were  in  a  state  of  dilapidation,  the 
pickets  rotten,  and  that  the  Canadian  militia  were  not 
disposed  to  risk  much  in  its  defence.  General  Hull 


106  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

thought  the  enterprise  more  hazardous  than  his  field 
officers  were  willing  to  admit,  and  did  not  wish  to  invade 
Canada,  and  attack  Maiden,  till  his  artillery  was  repaired ; 
he  would  then  be  prepared  to  batter  down  the  walls, 
should  the  enemy  refuse  to  surrender  the  place. 

As  soon  as  two  or  three  of  the  gun  carriages  were  re- 
paired, the  cannon  were  placed  on  them,  and  the  field 
officers  again  urged  General  Hull  to  cross  into  Canada. 
They  contended,  that  if  the  army  would  cross  the  river 
Detroit,  and  camp  in  Sandwich,  that  it  would  cut  off  the 
communication  between  Maiden,  and  the  settlements  on 
lake  St.  Clair  and  the  river  Thames,  and  thus  weaken 
the  resources  of  the  enemy.  At  length,  General  Hull, 
to  get  rid  of  the  importunities  of  his  field  officers,  issued 
orders  for  the  army  to  prepare  to  invade  the  enemy's 
country.  The  morning  of  the  12th  of  July  was  fixed 
upon  for  the  purpose.  Boats  were  prepared,  and  rowed 
up  the  river  with  muffled  oars,  to  opposite  the  lower  end 
of  Hog  Island,  about  two  miles  above  the  city  of  Detroit. 
McArthur,  during  this  busy  night  of  preparation,  had 
marched  his  regiment  down  the  river  to  a  place  called 
Spring  Wells,  three  miles  below  the  city,  and  had  floated 
down  the  river  some  old  boats  to  the  same  place,  and  ap- 
peared to  be  making  every  demonstration  of  crossing  the 
river  Detroit  at  this  place.  This  maneuver  was  only  a 
feint,  to  draw  the  attention  of  the  enemy  to  defend  a 
point  where  no  attack  was  meditated.  There  was  con- 
siderable marching  and  counter-marching  kept  up  till 
near  day,  when  a  few  men  were  left  at  Spring  Well,  to 
keep  up  a  noise,  while  McArthur  silently  dpfcw  off  his 
regiment,  and  marched  up  in  rear  of  Detroit,^o  opposite 
the  lower  end  of  Hog  Island,  where  he  joined  the  main 
body  of  the  army.  Here  a  sufficient  number  of  boats 
were  provided,  in  which  to  convey  two  regiments  of 
troops  at  a  time.  To  Colonels  Cass  and  Miller  was  con- 
fided the  honor  of  leading  the  van.  The  men  composing 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  107 

the  regiments  were  seated  in  the  boats  ;  and  as  soon  as  it 
was  light  enough  to  distinguish  objects  at  a  distance, 
General  Hull  gave  the  word  to  shove  off  with  the  boats 
for  the  Canada  shore.  The  boats  were  crowded  with 
soldiers,  the  oars  were  double  manned,  and  moved  off  in 
a  line,  and  kept  their  front  well  dressed  :  not  a  word  was 
spoken  by  the  soldiers  in  the  boats,  nor  by  those  on  land  ; 
every  eye  was  strained  towards  the  Canadian  shore. 
The  river  is  a  mile  broad  at  this  place :  it  took  a  good 
while  to  row  the  heavy  loaded  boats  across.  The  anxiety 
and  intense  feeling  which  pervaded  that  part  of  the  army 
on  shore,  as  well  as  the  citizens  of  Detroit,  who  were 
viewing  the  scene,  was  painful  in  the  highest  degree. 
When  they  had  got  about  half  way  across  the  river,  two 
men  in  British  uniform  came  riding  up  the  river  at  full 
speed.  The  question  of  interest  was,  were  they  backed 
by  soldiers,  to  attack  our  companions,  when  they  would 
reach  the  shore.  The  boats  went  on  in  good  order, 
keeping  abreast  of  each  other,  and  went  ahead  in  the 
most  profound  silence.  As  they  had  neared  the  shore, 
the  two  British  horsemen  galloped  down  the  river.  The 
boats  having  kept  their  line  well  dressed,  they  nearly  all 
made  the  shore  at  the  same  time.  The  moment  the 
boats  touched  land,  Colonels  Cass  and  Miller  were  the 
first  to  leap  on  shore.  Their  men  followed,  and  rushing 
up  the  bank  of  the  river,  formed  in  line  without  any  re- 
sistance. Now  was  raised  a  tremendous  shout.  The 
boats  returned  with  all  possible  expedition,  and  one 
regiment  after  another  crossed  the  river  in  quick  succes- 
sion. In  a  few  hours  the  main  army  was  safely  landed 
on  the  Canadian  shore.  The  maneuver  played  by  Mc- 
Arthur  the  previous  night,  about  Spring  Well,  had  drawn 
the  attention  of  the  enemy,  to  guard  against  an  invasion 
from  that  quarter ;  and  as  there  was  but  a  small  number 
of  the  enemy  at  the  place,  as  soon  as  they  knew  our 
army  had  landed  above  them,  they  retreated  to  Maiden. 


108  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE    OF 

The  army  marched  down  the  river,  opposite  the  city 
of  Detroit,  and  less  than  a  mile  above  the  village  of  Sand- . 
wich ;  and  commenced  making  a  regular  encampment. 
The  baggage,  tents,  ammunition,  and  provisions,  were 
brought  across  the  river  the  same  evening,  and  the  army 
now  appeared  to  be  perfectly  at  home  in  the  enemy's 
country.  So  much  can  ambitious,  energetic  spirits,  ac- 
complish in  a  short  time,  when  their  whole  souls  are 
fixed  on  any  particular  enterprise. 

The  army  having  safely  landed  without  opposition, 
Upper  Canada  appeared  to  have  fallen  without  a  blow. 
The  northern  army,  under  the  command  of  General 
Dearborn,  it  was  understood,  would  simultaneously  in- 
vade Canada  from  Black  Rock,  and  so  divide  the  force 
and  attention  of  the  British  general,  that  he  would  be 
unable  to  send  any  efficient  aid  to  his  forces  in  the  neigh- 
borhood of  Maiden.  Our  troops  were  too  sanguine: 
they  were  entire  strangers  to  the  manner  of  carrying  on 
war  with  a  people,  as  full  of  resources  as  was  the  Brit- 
ish nation.  In  General  Hull's  army,  there  were  few 
who  had  ever  smelled  the  smoke  of  enemies'  powder ; 
and  the  few  who  had  seen  any  thing  like  war,  were 
those  frontier  men  who  had  been  engaged  in  the  old  In- 
dian wars.  An  Indian  campaign  was  like  a  horse  race — 
it  was  soon  ended.  As  neither  the  Indians  nor  whites 
of  that  day  had  stores,  or  resources,  except  such  as  were 
carried  with  them  in  their  armies,  neither  could  remain 
long  in  the  field.  A  battle  must  be  immediately  fought, 
or  their  armies  must  disband  for  want  of  subsistence. 

As  soon  as  the  army  were  camped  near  Sandwich, 
there  was  then  no  material  obstruction  in  the  way  to 
Maiden ;  and  Colonels  McArthur  and  Cass  urged  an  im- 
mediate attack  on  Maiden,  which  was  only  eighteen 
miles  distant.  General  Hull  represented  an  attack  on  a 
fortified  place,  without  artillery,  as  an  act  of  rashness, 
for  which  he  would  not  be  responsible ;  that  the  army 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          109 

would  be  in  danger  of  meeting  a  repulse,  which  might 
damp  the  ardor  of  the  troops,  and  thus  essentially  injure 
the  service. 

General  Hull  had  previously  employed  some  confiden- 
tial men,  who  were  friendly  to  the  United  States  and 
residents  of  Canada,  to  pass  through  the  country  around 
lake  St.  Clair,  and  up  the  river  Thames,  and  down  lake 
Erie  as  far  as  Long  Point.  From  the  report  of  these 
men,  he  had  learned,  that  the  enemy  had  considerable 
military  stores  collected  on  the  Thames ;  and  as  Colonel 
McArthur  appeared  to  be  the  most  restive  and  uneasy  in 
a  state  of  inaction,  General  Hull  concluded  to  find  him 
some  employment,  and  ordered  him,  with  a  detachment, 
to  proceed  up  lake  St.  Clair  and  the  river  Thames,  to 
seize,  if  possible,  the  stores  which  the  enemy  had  col- 
lected at  that  place. 

Being  now  in  the  enemy's  country,  some  circumspection 
was  to  be  used,  that  the  object  of  the  expedition  should  be 
crowned  with  success.  The  country  through  which  his 
detachment  had  to  pass,  along  lake  St.  Clair  and  up  the 
Thames,  was  filled  up  with  a  dense  population  ;  and  to 
effect  his  object  secrecy  and  dispatch  were  indispensable 
in  his  movements.  He  left  General  Hull's  camp  a  little 
after  night  set  in,  with  Major  Denny's  battalion  of  infan- 
try and  a  few  horsemen,  and  made  a  rapid  march  up  the 
river  Detroit,  and  up  lake  St.  Clair.  At  morning  light 
he  was  more  than  twenty  miles  on  his  way.  As  delay 
would  enable  the  enemy  to  conceal,  or  move  the  stores 
out  of  his  reach,  no  time  was  lost  on  the  march. 

In  passing  up  what  is  there  called  the  king's  highway, 
an  incident  occurred  which  caused  a  short  halt.  A  deep, 
narrow  stream  runs  into  lake  St.  Clair,  over  which  creek 
is  constructed  a  good  frame  bridge,  and  near  this  bridge 
was  an  Indian  trading  establishment.  Here  were  some 
British  Indians,  who,  a  few  minutes  before  McArthur's 
detachment  arrived  at  the  place,  had,  by  some  means 


110  A   SKETCH   OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

been  apprised  of  his  advance,  and  immediately  got  into 
their  canoes,  and  pushed  up  the  creek.  As  soon  as  Mc- 
Arthur  was  informed  of  their  movement,  he  took  with  him 
some  horsemen,  and  pursued  the  Indians  up  the  creek, 
at  full  speed.  The  low  ground  along  the  creek  was  a 
prairie.  This  open  ground  afforded  the  Indians  an  op- 
portunity of  seeing  their  pursuers  at  a  distance.  When 
they  discovered  themselves  pursued,  they  landed  their 
canoes,  and  took  to  flight  on  foot,  and  made  for  the 
thick  brush ;  and  were  soon  out  of  danger  from  horse- 
men. Search  was  made  for  them,  but  all  in  vain.  "  The 
birds  had  flown."  As  they  were  about  giving  up  the 
pursuit,  they  found,  in  the  thick  top  of  a  fallen  tree,  con- 
cealed, an  Indian  woman  and  two  papooses,  the  one 
about  two  years  old,  the  other  about  four  or  five.  These 
poor  creatures  were  almost  frightened  to  death :  they 
were  the  most  perfect  representations  of  despair  I  ever 
witnessed.  They  were  conveyed  back  to  their  canoes, 
and  thence  down  the  creek  to  the  bridge :  here  they 
were  set  at  liberty.  This  Indian  woman  appeared  to  be 
about  twenty-five  years  of  age,  with  a  full  formed  and 
interesting  person.  She  expected  that  herself  and  her 
little  ones  would  be  instantly  put  to  death.  When  she 
found  herself  undeceived,  and  that  she  and  her  little  pa- 
pooses were  treated  with  kindness,  I  never  witnessed 
such  a  transformation  in  the  countenance  of  a  human 
being.  From  a  fixed  state  of  gloomy,  sullen  despera- 
tion, her  countenance  brightened  with  gratitude,  and  in 
an  instant  she  was  transformed  into  a  lovely  and  interest- 
ing female.  This  little  incident  detained  the  detachment 
probably  an  hour. 

The  march  was  resumed  with  fresh  vigor,  and  late  in 
the  evening  they  arrived  at  what  was  called  the  Dolson 
settlement  on  the  river  Thames.  The  detachment  had 
marched  one  night  and  day  without  taking  any  repose. 
So  rapid  had  been  the  march,  that  no  tidings  of  their 


GENERAL   DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  Ill 

approach  had  reached  his  majesty's  loyal  subjects  on 
the  Thames.  The  detachment  were  considerably  weari- 
ed by  the  hard  march  and  want  of  sleep,  and  camped 
this  night  around  the  house  of  a  Mr.  Dolson ;  this  Dol- 
son  was  a  man  of  wealth  ;  the  moment  he  saw  the  de- 
tachment, he  fled  to  the  woods.  After  the  camp  was 
formed,  and  sentinels  stationed,  Mrs.  Dolson  invited  the 
officers  to  take  supper  with  her  ;  the  invitation  was  cheer- 
fully accepted.  McArthur  inquired  for  her  husband,  she 
replied  "that  her  husband  was  not  very  distant;  but 
that  he  did  not  feel  himself  quite  safe  at  home,  on  the  pre- 
sent evening,  and  had  stepped  out  of  the  way."  Mc- 
Arthur assured  her,  that  the  Americans  only  made  war 
on  soldiers  with  arms  in  their  hands,  that  neither  private 
citizens  nor  private  property  would  be  disturbed ;  that  if 
her  husband  was  within  reach  he  would  like  to  see  him 
at  the  head  of  the  table.  Upon  this  assurance,  and  the 
privilege  of  passing  the  watchful  sentinels,  Mrs.  Dolson 
sent  a  messenger,  and  in  a  little  time  Mr.  Dolson  came 
in  and  presided  at  the  table.  The  evening  passed  off  in 
as  social  glee,  as  if  war  had  never  been  heard  of. 

By  the  dawn  of  day,  McArthur  had  his  detachment  in 
motion,  and  proceeded  rapidly  to  Col.  McGregor's  mills, 
the  place  of  his  destination.  This  Col.  McGregor  was 
a  man  of  large  property,  a  member  of  the  Canadian  par- 
liament. His  mills  and  warehouses  were  on  an  exten- 
sive scale.  In  his  warehouse  was  found  upwards  of 
three  hundred  barrels  of  flour,  branded  "  for  his  majesty's 
service  ;"  there  was  also  found  a  number  of  bales  of 
merchandize,  marked  for  the  "  Indian  department :" 
several  keel  boats  were  lying  near  the  mills  to  convey 
the  flour  and  merchandize  to  such  places,  as  they  might 
be  most  needed. 

McArthur  took  possession  of  the  property,  and  passed 
receipts  to  Col.«McGregor  for  these  stores,  that  Col. 
McGregor  should  be  able  to  show  his  majesty  how  they 


112  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

had  been  disposed  of ;  and  then  stowed  them  into  the 
keel  boats  which  were  before  prepared  for  that  purpose. 
As  soon  as  the  boats  were  loaded,  Major  Denny  was 
placed  in  charge  of  them,  and  proceeded  down  the 
Thames  with  the  booty.  As  Col.  McGregor  was  a 
member  of  the  Canadian  parliament,  McArthur  made  a 
prisoner  of  him,  but  permitted  him  to  go  on  parole.  The 
few  horsemen  who  accompanied  the  expedition  were 
divided  into  two  squads  ;  one  squad  went  in  advance  of 
the  boats,  to  reconnoiter  lest  some  ambuscade  might  be 
planned  to  intercept  their  return  ;  the  other  squad  re- 
mained in  the  rear  of  the  boats  lest  they  might  be  pur- 
sued and  surprised ;  they  moved  on  rapidly  till  they  ar- 
rived in  Lake  St.  Clair,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Thames. 
Here  McArthur  in  person  took  command  of  the  boats, 
and  went  down  Lake  St.  Clair  with  them  to  Detroit ; 
whilst  Major  Denny  took  charge  of  the  horsemen  and 
made  a  rapid  move  for  General  Hull's  camp.  No 
accident  or  loss  happened  during  this  excursion  of  up- 
wards of  sixty  miles  into  the  enemy's  country.  This 
expedition  was  performed  in  three  days  and  nights  ; 
and  shows  the  activity  and  perseverance  of  the  command- 
er of  the  detachment.  The  flour  lent  by  his  majesty  on 
this  occasion  was  a  very  seasonable  supply,  as  the  store 
in  our  army  was  not  abundant. 

Whilst  Col.  McArthur  was  on  the  expedition  up  the 
Thames,  General  Hull  was  using  every  effort  in  his 
power  to  cause  the  artillery  to  be  prepared  for  effective 
use.  Two  large  floating  batteries  were  constructed,  on 
which  to  carry  the  large  thirty  pounders,  to  drive  the 
enemy's  brig,  the  Queen  Charlotte,  from  her  anchorage 
above  Maiden,  and  to  aid  in  battering  down  the  walls  of 
Maiden. 

On  the  same  evening  that  Col.  McArthur  returned  to 
the  camp  with  his  detachment,  in  his  absence  General 
Hull  had  ordered  Col.  Cass  with  his  regiment  down  the 


Gen.  Cass. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          113 

river  Detroit,  to  the  neighborhood  of  Maiden  to  make  ob- 
servations. Col.  Cass  had  proceeded  down  nearly  to  the 
mouth  of  the  river  Auxcanard,  which  is  very  deep  and 
narrow,  over  which  was  constructed  a  good  frame  bridge ; 
near  the  bridge  lay  a  detachment  of  the  enemy,  for  the 
purpose  of  preventing  our  troops  from  crossing.  By  his 
reconnoitering  parties,  Col.  Cass  was  advised  of  the  pro- 
bable number  and  situation  of  the  enemy  at  this  place. 
There  was  a  ford  on  this  river,  about  three  miles  above 
the  bridge  ;  he  concluded  that  if  he  could  cross  the 
country  and  pass  the  river  at  this  shallow  ford  unper- 
ceived,  that  he  could  come  down  the  river  on  the  Mai- 
den side,  and  take  or  destroy  the  party  of  the  enemy, 
who  were  guarding  the  bridge.  His  plan  was  well  laid, 
and  as  promptly  executed,  but  without  the  success  which 
was  anticipated.  Military  affairs  sometimes  appear  to 
be  the  sport  of  chance  :  a  few  minutes  of  time,  sooner  or 
later  in  occupying  a  particular  point  decides  favorably, 
or  frustrates  the  best  laid  plans.  Col.  Cass  ctossed  the 
river,  and  got  within  about  half  a  mile  of  the  enemy  before 
he  was  discovered.  Some  of  their  reconnoitering  parties 
had  espied  him,  and  gave  the  alarm.  The  enemy  re- 
treated rapidly,  and  Cass  pursued,  keeping  up  a 
scattering  and  distant  fire,  which  did  but  little  injury. 
The  enemy  retreated  under  the  walls  of  Maiden,  and 
Cass  pursued  them  till  he  was  within  range  of  their 
cannon  ;  he  then  retired,  and  returned  to  camp  withont 
being  pursued  or  disturbed  on  his  march.  In  this  skir- 
mish several  lives  were  lost  on  both  sides. 

The  British  commander  believed  that  Col.  Cass  com- 
manded the  advance  of  Gen.  Hull's  army,  and  under  this 
impression,  he  began  to  prepare  himself  to  endure  a  siege. 
He  concluded  the  retreat  of  Cass  only  a  feint  to  draw  out 
the  garrison  ;  under  this  belief  he  permitted  a  handful  of 
men  to  depart  unmolested.  Cass  and  McArthur  returned  to 
camp  about  the  same  time.  McArthur's  success  added  to 


114  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

the  resources  of  the  army ;  Cass  obtained  a  personal  know- 
ledge of  the  difficulties  to  be  encountered  on  their  future 
march  to  Maiden. 

The  artillery  were  at  length  in  a  state  of  preparation 
for  effective  use,  and  the  long-looked  for  time  to  make  a 
descent  on  Maiden,  appeared  to  be  fast  approaching. 
Troops  were  kept  constantly  on  the  road  between  Sand- 
wich and  Maiden ;  several  unimportant  skirmishes  took 
place  on  and  near  this  road.  The  enemy  constantly  kept  a 
guard  at  the  Auxcanard  bridge ;  and  any  of  our  small  parties 
who  had  a  relish  for  a  fight,  knew  where  they  could  be  ac- 
commodated. If  they  went  to  the  bridge,  they  were  sure 
of  meeting  some  of  the  red  coats,  or  Tecumseh  with  his 
Indians.  Here  Col.  Findlay  had  a  bout,  in  which  he 
took  and  lost  some  lives.  Here,  Captain  Snelling  of  the 
fourth  infantry  had  some  practice.  Here,  McArthur  had 
a  flurry  with  the  Indians,  in  which  he  had  several  men 
wounded  and  his  horse  shot  in  the  top  of  the  forehead ; 
the  horse»reeled  but  was  not  materially  injured.  Here, 
too,  the  brave  Major  Denny  had  a  severe  brush  with  the 
Indians,  in  which  he  lost  seven  or  eight  men  killed,  one 
taken  prisoner,  and  several  wounded.  The  prairies  and 
woods  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  bridge  were  the  theater 
of  considerable  maneuvers,  where  the  raw  soldiers  were 
drilled  and  practised  to  the  sharp  whistle  of  the  enemy's 
balls. 

On  the  seventh  of  August,  General  Hull  issued  orders 
for  the  troops  to  be  in  readiness  to  march  for  Maiden  the 
next  morning.  The  artillerists  had  their  guns  prepared, 
the  heavy  thirty-two  pounders  were  placed  on  the  float- 
ing batteries.  The  infantry  scoured  and  oiled  their  fire- 
arms ;  the  horsemen  sharpened  and  oiled  their  swords, 
that  they  might  be  easily  drawn  from  their  scabbards. 
Every  officer  and  private  appeared  as  anxious  for  the 
combat,  as  ever  bride  or  bridegroom  were  for  the  wedding 
night. 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    Itt'ARTHUR.  115 

The  long-looked  for  morning  came,  the  word  for 
marching  was  given  by  the  General,  not  upon  Maiden, 
but  to  retrace  our  steps  to  the  American  side  of  the  river 
Detroit.  Surprise  and  amazement  shrouded  every  face  in 
sullen  gloom  and  disappointment !  Was  it  caprice,  or 
cowardice,  or  was  it  treason  in  the  General,  which  so 
suddenly  and  unexpectedly  changed  the  destination  of 
the  army  ?  Mystery  appeared  to  hang  over  the  move- 
ment !  No  explanation  for  the  retrograde  movement  of 
the  army  was  given.  Major  Denny  of  Me  Arthur's  regi- 
ment, was  left  on  the  Canadian  shore  in  charge  of  our 
old  camp ;  and  before  night,  the  main  army  was  stationed 
in  the  forts,  and  on  the  commons  of  the  city  of  Detroit. 

By  this  sudden,  retrograde  movement  of  the  army, 
General  Hull  lost  the  army's  confidence ;  a  kind  of 
gloomy  suspicion  of  the  General's  patriotism  was  open- 
ly expressed,  by  officers  and  privates.  No  council  of 
officers  was  called  before  this  hasty  retreat  was  made  : 
the  army  was  completely  at  fault,  no  reason  having  been 
assigned  for  this  mysterious  movement. 

It  is  believed,  when  General  Hull  first  invaded  Can- 
ada, that  if  he  had  gone  down  (it  was  only  eighteen 
miles  distant)  and  paraded  his  army  before  Maiden,  that 
the  garrison  would  have  surrendered  without  an  effort  at 
defence.  This  might  have  been  the  case,  but  it  might 
not.  Had  his  troops  been  repulsed  with  loss  of  men, 
the  world  would  have  reprobated  his  rashness  in  at- 
tempting to  take  a  fortified  garrison  without  artillery. 
The  delay  necessary  to  repair  the  gun  carriages  was  a 
misfortune  for  which  he  was  not  responsible.  For  this 
delay  the  then  administrators  of  government  were  culp- 
able ;  at  least  the  secretary  of  war,  who  was  acquainted 
with  the  views  of  the  administration,  should  have  caused 
the  artillery,  at  the  most  exposed  frontier  post,  to  be  in 
a  state  of  such  repair  as  to  be  fit  for  immediate  use. 

It  is  necessary  now  that  v.ne  cause  of  General  Hull's 
9 


116  A   SKETCH    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

retreat  from  Canada  should  be  given.  On  the  seventh 
of  August,  he  received  some  letters  sent  by  express,  by 
General  Hall  and  General  P.  B.  Porter,  who  command- 
ed the  American  troops  on  the  Niagara  frontier,  inform- 
ing him  that  a  large  British  force  from  the  neighborhood 
of  Niagara  were  preparing  to  move  up  Lake  Erie  to 
Maiden.  In  addition  to  this  startling  intelligence,  as 
previously  stated,  General  Hull  had  employed  some 
Canadians,  in  whom  he  had  the  utmost  confidence,  to 
travel  through  Canada,  to  observe  the  motions  of  the 
enemy,  and  give  him  intelligence  of  their  movements. 
On  the  night  preceding  the  contemplated  attack  on  fort 
Maiden,  a  Mr.  Watson,  one  of  his  confidential  Canadian 
spies,  arrived  in  camp,  and  assured  General  Hull,  that 
the  British  General  Brock  was  at  fort  Erie  collecting  all 
his  disposable  force,  and  placing  them  on  board  ships  and 
boats  destined  for  Maiden.  That  as  soon  as  he  (Watson) 
learned  the  destination  of  General  Brock,  he  mounted 
his  horse,  and  came  with  the  utmost  speed  to  acquaint 
General  Hull  with  the  reinforcements  with  which  Mai- 
den would  be  strengthened.  The  letters  from  Generals 
Hall  and  Porter,  and  the  communication  made  by  Mr. 
Watson,  all  came  upon  General  Hull  simultaneously, 
alarmed  him,  and  were  the  cause  of  his  retreat  from 
Canada.  That  the  intelligence  received  by  General  Hull 
was  correct,  is  proved  by  the  fact,  that  General  Brock 
arrived  at  Maiden  in  a  day  or  two  after,  with  six  hun- 
dred regular  troops.  To  understand  this  movement  of 
the  British  army,  we  must  turn  our  attention  to  the  con- 
duct of  General  Dearborn,  who  then  commanded  the 
American  armies  on  the  northern  frontier ;  that  on  the 
Niagara,  down  Lake  Ontario,  and  on  the  St.  Lawrence. 
General  Sir  George  Prevost  was  the  commander  in  chief 
of  the  enemy's  armies.  The  English  government  had 
repealed  their  "  orders  in  council,"  which  "  orders"  were 
one  of  the  prominent  causes  of  the  war.  On  the  repeal 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M*  ARTHUR.          117 

of  these  "  orders  in  council,1'  General  Prevost  made  ap- 
plication to  General  Dearborn  for  a  cessation  of  arms, 
thinking  it  probable  that  a  repeal  of  those  vexatious  "  or- 
ders in  council"  would  pave  the  way  to  a  restoration  of 
peace.  General  Dearborn,  without  reflecting  on  its  con- 
sequence, in  an  unguarded  moment,  agreed  to  a  cessa- 
tion of  arms  on  the  whole  length  of  his  line  of  command, 
for  forty  days,  commencing  on  the  first  day  of  August, 
1812.  As  soon  as  a  copy  of  the  arrangement  for  this 
armistice  reached  the  city  of  Washington,  it  was  obvious 
that  General  Dearborn  had  been  overreached  by  his  an- 
tagonist. As  General  Hull's  field  of  operation  was  not 
included  in  the  armistice,  the  British  General  would  now 
have  an  opportunity  of  concentrating  all  his  forces,  and 
overwhelm  General  Hull's  army  during  the  continuance 
of  the  armistice. 

The  secretary  of  war  "promptly  informed  General 
Dearborn  that  the  arrangement  was  disapprobated  by  the 
President  of  the  United  States,  and  peremptorily  ordered 
to  put  an  end  to  it  as  speedily  as  possible."  The  arm- 
istice was  broken  off  on  the  twenty-ninth  day  of  August, 
but  not  before  the  British  General  had  effected  the  de- 
struction of  General  Hull.  Of  all  the  military  blunders 
during  the  late  war,  that  produced  the  most  fatal  conse- 
quences. It  was  the  primary  cause  of  the  capitulation 
of  the  garrison  of  Detroit ;  General  Hull's  surrender  was 
the  cause  of  preparing  the  way  for  those  scenes  of  sa- 
vage butcheries  and  miseries,  that  were  perpetrated  in 
Michigan  and  on  the  frontiers  of  Ohio,  which  clothed 
Kentucky  and  Ohio  in  mourning. 

Had  it  not  been  for  that  fatal  armistice,  the  American 
troops  from  the  lower  end  of  Lake  Erie,  would  have  in- 
vaded Canada  at  the  same  time  that  General  Hull 
was  preparing  to  attack  Fort  Maiden,  and  thus  would 
have  kept  the  British  General  Brock  in  play  on  the 
Niagara  frontier;  and  General  Hull  would  doubtless 


118  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

have  taken  Maiden ;  the  Indians  would  then  have  been 
quiet,  and  the  upper  lakes,  for  a  time  at  least,  would 
scarcely  have  heard  the  alarms  of  war. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

ABOUT  the  time  General  Brock  was  concentrating  his 
forces  at  Maiden,  Captain  Henry  Brush,  of  Ohio,  with  a 
company  of  volunteers,  consisting  of  about  a  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  raised  in  the  town  of  Chillicothe  and  its  vicin- 
ity, arrived  at  the  river  Raisin,  thirty-six  miles  south  of 
Detroit,  escorting  a  large  supply  of  provision  for  our 
army.  General  Brock  received  intelligence  of  the  ap- 
proach of  Captain  Brush,  and  as  this  escort  would  neces- 
sarily have  to  pass  Brownstown,  which  is  opposite  to 
Maiden,  and  only  four  miles  from  thence,  he  determined 
to  intercept  Captain  Brush's  convoy.  General  Brock 
placed  his  Indians,  and  a  few  regular  troops  to  give  the 
Indians  confidence,  at  Brownstown,  to  watch  the  motions 
of  Captain  Brush,  and  to  cut  off  the  communication 
from  Ohio  with  Hull's  army. 

Captain  Brush  was  a  lawyer  of  distinguished  eminence, 
a  man  of  talents,  and  a  vigilant  officer.  He  was  advised 
of  the  trap  laid  by  the  enemy,  to  intercept  him  on  his 
way  to  the  army ;  and  sent  au  express  rider  through  the 
woods  to  General  Hull,  to  advise  him  of  his  critical  sit- 
uation. General  Hull  sent  Major  Vanhorn,  with  a  bat- 
talion of  troops,  to  meet  Captain  Brush,  and  to  escort 
the  convoy  of  provisions  to  Detroit.  The  British  and 
Indians  met  Major  Vanhorn's  detachment  at  Brownstown, 
a  battle  ensued,  and  Vanhorn  was  defeated  with  consid- 
erable loss.  This  has  been  called  the  battle  of  Browns- 
town. 

As  provision  was  running  short  at  Detroit,  and  as 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          119 

Captain  Brush  had  a  considerable  quantity  with  him, 
General  Hull  determined  to  make  another  effort  to  aid 
his  advance.  For  this  purpose,  he  sent  Colonel  Miller 
with  the  fourth  regiment  of  United  States  infantry,  and 
Major  Vanhorn  with  his  battalion  of  volunteers,  to  bring 
in  Captain  Brush's  convoy  of  provision.  When  this  de- 
tachment had  marched  to  an  old  Indian  town,  called 
Maguagua,  three  miles  above  Brownstown,  they  were 
met  by  a  numerous  party  of  British  and  Indians.  A  se- 
vere and  stubborn  battle  ensued:  the  enemy  were  de- 
feated. Colonel  Miller,  with  the  energy  and  promptitude 
which  distinguished  him  in  numerous  battles  since,  drove 
the  red  coats  and  yellow  jackets  from  their  coverts  with 
the  bayonet.  The  loss  of  the  enemy  in  this  obstinate 
affair  was  very  considerable  ;  nor  was  the  victory  cheaply 
gained.  We  had  a  number  of  men  killed,  and  about 
eighty  wounded :  nearly  one-fourth  in  all.  Colonel  Mil- 
ler camped  on  the  field  of  battle.  He  sent  an  express  to 
General  Hull,  with  the  intelligence  of  his  victory,  and 
the  loss  he  had  sustained  in  the  battle.  The  express 
from  Colonel  Miller  arrived  in  Detroit  some  time  before 
midnight.  General  Hull  ordered  Colonel  McArthur  to 
take  two  hundred  of  his  regiment,  and  proceed  forthwith 
to  Colonel  Miller's  camp,  and  bring  up  the  wounded  to 
head  quarters.  Colonel  McArthur  procured  some  boats, 
in  which  he  went  down  himself,  and  as  many  of  his  men 
as  could  procure  horses  went  down  by  land.  Some  time 
after  midnight,  the  detachment  set  off  for  Miller's  camp. 
The  night  was  dark  and  stormy,  the  rain  fell  in  torrents, 
the  thunder  rolled  in  long  vibrations  along  the  broad 
river  Detroit ;  but  the  poor  soldier  had  no  choice :  he 
had  voluntarily  placed  himself  as  the  sentinel  and  guard 
of  his  country ;  he  must  endure  the  storms  of  the  ele- 
ments, as  well  as  repel  the  storms  of  the  enemy.  The 
detachment  arrived  at  Colonel  Miller's  camp  some  time 
after  daylight,  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles.  About  this 


120  A   SKETCH   OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

time  it  ceased  raining.  Arrangements  were  soon  made 
to  place  the  wounded  in  the  boats,  in  order  for  their  re- 
moval to  head  quarters.  Colonel  McArthur  sent  two 
companies  in  advance  of  the  boats,  to  keep  a  look  out, 
lest  the  enemy  should  lay  in  ambush  along  the  shore ; 
whilst  he  in  person  directed  the  movements  of  the  boats, 
to  encourage  the  boatmen  and  soldiers  to  propel  them  up 
the  heavy  current,  with  all  possible  dispatch.  The 
Gros  Isle,  which  is  eight  miles  long,  is  situated  be- 
twixt Colonel  Miller's  camp  and  Maiden;  the  main 
channel  for  large  vessels  is  to  the  Maiden  side  of  the 
island,  Miller's  camp  is  opposite  the  middle  of  the  island, 
and  Maiden  nearly  opposite  the  lower  end.  That  part 
of  the  river  which  runs  between  Miller's  camp  and  the 
island  is  about  four  hundred  yards  over.  On  this  busy 
day  the  British  and  Indians  were  seen  running  up  and 
down  the  island,  watching  the  motions  of  our  troops  on 
the  main  land.  From  the  other  side  of  the  island,  they 
could  communicate  by  signals  to  their  friends  in  Maiden 
the  movements  of  our  troops. 

McArthur  was  making  all  the  head  way  he  could  with 
his  squadron  of  boats  along  the  shore.  The  enemy's 
brig  Hunter,  well  manned,  was  discovered  sailing  up  the 
river  with  a  fair  breeze,  to  intercept  our  boats,  as  soon 
as  they  should  pass  the  upper  point  of  the  island.  The 
boats  being  crowded  with  the  wounded,  to  attempt  pass- 
ing the  enemy's  ship,  which  was  mounted  with  twelve 
guns  of  six  and  nine  pounders,  would  have  been  mad- 
ness. The  Hunter  came  round  the  point  of  the  island, 
within  two  hundred  and  fifty  yards  of  the  American 
shore,  and  dropped  anchor  with  her  broadside  facing  the 
shore.  McArthur  was  now  placed  in  an  unexpected 
dilemma ;  to  pass  the  enemy's  ship  in  safety  was  im- 
possible ;  he  had  no  wagons  or  other  carriages  in  which 
to  convey  the  wounded  to  Detroit ;  he  landed  his  boats 
and  sent  an  express  to  Colonel  Miller  with  the  intelli- 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          121 

gence  of  his  critical  situation.  Col.  Miller  had  three 
wagons  and  two  carts  with  his  detachment,  which  were 
sent  to  McArthur,  and  into  these,  the  wounded  were 
literally  stowed  away,  and  the  escort  commenced  its 
march.  When  they  came  opposite  to  where  the  enemy's 
ship  rode  at  anchor,  the  road  passed  immediately  on  the 
bank  of  the  river,  in  full  view  of  the  enemy.  A  marshy 
quagmire  from  the  land  side  reached  nearly  to  the  river 
edge,  so  that  it  was  impossible  to  go  with  the  wagons 
through  the  marsh,  and  no  other  alternative  presented  it- 
self than  to  drive  the  teams  at  full  speed  past  the  ship. 
The  distance  on  the  road,  on  which  the  wagons  would 
be  exposed  to  the  enemy's  broadside,  was  a  little  over  a 
hundred  yards,  after  that  distance,  the  wagons  would  be 
covered  by  thick  woods.  When  the  first  team  was 
driven  near  this  exposed  piece  of  road,  the  driver  halted, 
and  refused  to  drive  the  team  where  he  knew  he  would 
be  exposed  to  the  fire  of  the  enemy's  broadside.  A  Mr. 
Robert  Smith,  from  the  neighborhood  of  Chillicothe, 
came  up,  and  swore  he  would  drive  the  team  through, 
if  the  enemy  should  send  at  him  a  storm  of  thunder  and 
lightning.  He  mounted  the  saddle-horse,  and  with  his 
whip  fretted  the  team,  and  then  at  full  speed  set  off  to 
pass  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  Smith  was  in  the  open 
ground,  as  was  expected,  the  enemy  fired  a  broadside  at 
the  wagon.  The  wind  was  blowing  a  moderate  gale, 
this  caused  the  ship  to  rock  with  the  waves,  so  that  their 
aim  was  uncertain.  The  wagons  and  carts  were  all  pass- 
ed at  full  speed,  at  every  one  of  which  was  fired  a 
broadside,  from  which  no  injury  was  received.  This 
rapid  drive  of  the  wagons  and  carts,  there  is  no  doubt, 
was  the  ultimate  cause  of  the  death  of  several  of  the 
wounded.  When  the  teams  were  running  at  full  speed, 
and  when  the  wagon  wheels  would  come  in  contact  with 
a  stump,  a  root,  or  a  stone,  the  jar  would  throw  the 
wounded  soldiers,  in  heaps  upon  each  other ;  in  this  way 


122  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

the  bandages  would  come  loose,  and  the  broken  bones 
be  torn  from  their  places,  and  their  wounds  bleed  afresh ; 
by  the  time  the  carriages  had  passed,  the  road  was  made 
slippery  with  the  blood  of  the  poor  wounded  soldiers. 
After  passing  this  place,  Colonel  McArthur  proceeded 
without  meeting  any  further  difficulties  till  he  arrived 
at  Detroit,  where  the  wounded  where  placed  in  hospitals 
under  the  care  of  the  surgeons.  The  next  day,  Colonel 
Miller  returned  to  head  quarters  without  having  effected 
the  object  of  his  expedition,  which  was  to  meet  Captain 
Brush's  detachment,  and  escort  the  military  stores  to 
head  quarters. 

Dangers  were  now  thickening  around  Gen.  Hull  and 
his  troops,  and  to  add  to  his  other  perplexities  provisions 
were  growing  short  with  the  army.  It  was  understood 
that  Captain  Brush,  with  his  detachment  and  military 
stores,  still  remained  at  the  river  Raisin,  only  thirty-six 
miles  distant  on  the  direct  road.  Gen.  Hull  determined 
to  make  another  effort  to  bring  forward  Captain  Brush 
and  the  stores  he  had  with  him.  For  this  purpose,  he 
detached  Colonels  McArthur  and  Cass  with  five  hundred 
men,  with  instructions  to  proceed  in  a  southwest  direc- 
tion, on  a  path  which  leads  from  Detroit  to  Fort  Wayne, 
so  far  that  an  east  course  would  make  the  settlement 
of  the  river  Raisin :  by  taking  this  circuitous  direction 
they  would  shun  the  dangerous,  though  direct,  road 
passing  through  Brown's  Town  ;  but  the  distance  to  the 
river  Raisin,  where  Captain  Brush  lay  would  be  greatly 
increased.  Guides  who  were  well  acquainted  with  the 
country  were  procured  to  pilot  the  march  of  the  detach- 
ment, which  on  Friday  the  14th  of  August  set  off  on 
this  secret  expedition.  As  the  detachment  were  on  foot, 
they  went  forward  without  baggage  or  provision,  Gen. 
Hull  having  assured  them  that  he  would  send  provisions 
on  pack-horses  after  them.  The  provisions  were  sent, 
but  the  packers  lost  their  way,  and  did  not  find  the  de- 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          123 

tachment.  McArthur  went  on  till  Saturday  afternoon, 
the  15th  of  August,  when  he  was  overtaken  by  an  ex- 
press rider  from  head  quarters,  with  instructions  to  re- 
turn to  Detroit  with  all  possible  expedition.  He  was 
informed  that  Gen.  Brock  had  come  up  from  Maiden, 
and  camped  in  the  vicinity  of  Sandwich,  immediately 
opposite  to  Detroit,  and  had  demanded  the  surrender  of 
the  American  army.  This  news  was  unexpected,  pain- 
ful and  alarming.  McArthur  with  that  promptness  which 
marked  his  character  through  life,  commenced  retracing 
his  steps  for  Detroit.  This  was  in  the  evening  of  Satur- 
day, he  was  now  more  than  thirty  miles  from  head  quar- 
ters, his  detachment  had  been  two  days  without  subsis- 
tence. The  path  on  which  they  had  to  march  was  nar- 
row, muddy,  and  full  of  logs  and  brush  ;  the  soldiers 
were  nearly  exhausted  by  hunger  and  fatigue.  The 
startling  intelligence  that  Detroit,  the  head  quarters  of 
the  army,  was  in  danger  of  falling  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy  in  their  absence  added  spurs  to  their  march,  they 
went  on  without  a  murmur  as  long  as  they  could  see  the 
path  ;  at  length  they  were  halted,  and  supperless  lay 
down  to  rest  their  weary  limbs.  Here  they  rested  till 
the  moon  rose,  which  was  some  time  before  day-light, 
when  they  resumed  their  toilsome  and  feeble  march. 
This  was  Sunday  morning,  August  the  16th,  and  the 
third  day  they  were  without  subsistence.  About  sunrise 
they  had  got  within  ten  miles  of  Detroit ;  they  began  to 
hear  the  roar  of  cannon ;  the  sound  of  the  artillery  was 
distinctly  heard  rolling  up  the  river  Rouge ;  there  was 
no  doubt  but  that  the  two  armies  were  engaged  in  deadly 
strife.  Our  faithful  soldiers  pressed  steadily  forward  till 
they  came  within  about  four  miles  of  Detroit.  The  fire 
of  artillery  had  ceased  for  some  time.  Here  they  discov- 
ered a  Canadian  Frenchman  running  through  a  prairie. 
Col.  McArthur  sent  some  horsemen  in  pursuit,  who 
overtook  and  brought  in  the  fugitive.  This  man  was  a 


124  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Canadian  who  had  joined  our  army,  and  who  was  now 
fleeing  to  bush  to  save  his  neck  from  the  halter.  He  in- 
formed Col.  McArthur,  that  Gen.  Hull  had  surrendered 
the  town,  fort,  and  army  to  the  enemy :  that  just  as  he 
had  left  the  city,  the  English  were  marching  into  the 
fort ;  that  when  he  saw  this,  he  knew  that  it  was  time 
for  him  to  take  to  the  woods  to  save  his  life.  McArthur 
did  not  know  whether  to  place  confidence  in  the  French- 
man's story  or  not.  He  continued  his  march  on  what 
was  called  the  back  road,  and  dispatched  some  horse- 
men to  go  in  the  rear  of  Detroit  to  make  observations. 
These  men  returned  with  the  assurance  that  the  British 
colors  were  waving  over  the  fort.  Col.  McArthur  and 
his  detachment  were  now  placed  in  a  most  critical  situa- 
tion ;  the  enemy  in  front  and  famine  in  the  rear.  This 
was  the  third  day  they  had  been  without  subsistence, 
and  all  the  time  engaged  in  forced  marches  ;  such  are  the 
distresses,  hardships,  and  privations  common  in  a  sol 
dier's  life.  Not  a  murmur  nor  complaint  was  uttered 
during  this  painful  and  perplexing  scene.  Here  were 
five  hundred  of  the  choice  spirits  from  the  Scioto  and 
Muskingum  valleys,  commanded  by  their  favorite  offi- 
cers. McArthur  now  ordered  a  retreat.  After  they  had 
marched  about  two  miles,  a  large  ox  was  discovered 
feeding  by  the  road  side.  Notwithstanding  the  critical 
and  perplexing  situation  of  the  detachment,  a  halt  was 
made  to  satisfy  our  pinching  hunger.  The  ox  was  con- 
sidered a  "  God-send,"  he  was  shot,  and  fires  were  pre- 
pared in  a  shorter  time  than  ever  before  witnessed.  The 
ox  was  slaughtered  in  less  time  than  any  professed 
butchers  could  have  done  the  deed. 

Whilst  they  were  roasting  their  meat,  two  men  on 
horseback,  dressed  in  British  uniform,  and  two  Indians, 
were  discovered  with  a  white  flag  approaching  us.  The 
white  men  were  Major  Chambers  and  Captain  Elliot, 
both  of  the  British  army,  accompanied  by  two  Indian 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  125 

chiefs  ;  they  carried  with  them  the  articles  of  capitula- 
tion of  the  American  army  by  Gen.  Hull.  The  bearers 
of  the  flag  were  placed  under  guard;  Col.  McArthur 
called  all  the  commissioned  officers  together  to  consult 
about  the  propriety  of  embracing,  or  rejecting  the  prof- 
fered terms  of  the  capitulation.  After  the  most  mature 
deliberation,  it  was  concluded,  that  the  chance  of  ef- 
fecting our  retreat  to  Fort  Wayne,  which  was  the 
nearest  place  that  supplies  could  be  obtained,  was 
too  desperate  to  be  effected  by  men  already  nearly  ex- 
hausted with  fatigue  and  famine  :  the  proffered  terms  of 
the  capitulation  were  acceded  to,  and  the  detachment 
forthwith  marched  into  the  city  of  Detroit,  grounded  their 
arms,  and  were  prisoners  of  war.  We  were  treated  with 
kindness  by  the  enemy.  The  terms  of  the  capitulation 
were  scrupulously  complied  with  by  the  British  general. 
The  regular  troops,  with  Gen.  Hull  at  their  head,  were 
sent  to  Quebec.  The  volunteers  and  militia  were  soon 
on  their  way  to  their  respective  homes  ;  where  they 
safely  arrived  among  their  friends  and  relatives  without 
any  thing  occurring  worth  relating. 

Thus  was  closed  the  disastrous  expedition  under  the 
command  of  General  Hull.  I  am  aware  that  it  is  fashion- 
able to  call  General  Hull  a  traitor  ;  and  perhaps  I  may  risk 
my  character  for  patriotism,  for  doubting  the  allegation. 
Gen.  Hull  was  surrounded  with  difficulties,  which  were 
not  at  the  time  sufficiently  estimated.  A  wilderness  of 
nearly  two  hundred  miles  in  his  rear ;  add  to  this,  the 
enemy  had  the  undisputed  command  of  the  lakes  ;  they 
could  convey  their  troops  and  military  supplies  by  wa- 
ter to  any  point  on  which  they  wished  to  act,  their  men 
could  step  out  of  their  ships  fresh  for  action.  This  gave 
the  British  General  a  decided  advantage.  Numerous 
were  the  difficulties  which  General  Hull  had  to  encoun- 
ter during  the  last  eight  days  previous  to  the  capitulation. 
The  first,  in  importance,  was  the  fatal  armistice,  by 


126  A   SKETCH    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

which  General  Dearborn  was  overreached  by  Sir  George 
Prevost,  the  British  commander;  which  afforded  the 
enemy  an  opportunity  of  concentrating  all  their  troops 
on  the  lower  lake,  as  well  as  on  lake  Erie,  to  act  against 
General  Hull.  About  this  time,  Captain  Henry  Brush 
arrived  at  the  river  Raisin,  with  about  one  hundred  and 
fifty  men,  and  a  considerable  quantity  of  military  stores. 
The  river  Raisin  is  about  thirty-six  miles  south  of  De- 
troit ;  and  fort  Maiden,  the  head-quarters  of  the  enemy, 
about  half  way  betwixt  Detroit  and  the  river  Raisin :  of 
course,  Captain  Brush,  to  go  to  Detroit,  would  have  to 
pass  near  Maiden.  Between  the  eighth  and  sixteenth  of 
August,  two  battles  were  fought,  with  a  view  of  aiding 
Captain  Brush  forward.  The  first  at  Brownstown, 
where  Major  Vanhorn  was  defeated.  The  second  at 
Maguagou,  where  Colonel  Miller  defeated  the  enemy, 
but  with  the  loss  of  nearly  one  fourth  of  his  men  killed 
and  wounded.  Such  was  his  loss  of  men,  that  he  was 
compelled  to  return  to  head-quarters  without  effecting  the 
object  of  the  expedition.  General  Hull,  by  express  car- 
riers, who  passed  through  the  woods,  kept  up  a  corre- 
spondence with  Captain  Brush.  As  Brush  commanded 
a  volunteer  company  of  the  elite  citizens  of  Chillicothe 
and  its  vicinity,  Colonel  McArthur,  being  their  neighbor, 
felt  more  than  the  usual  interest  to  get  them  forward ; 
and  as  two  previous  expeditions  had  failed  to  effect  that 
object,  Colonels  McArthur  and  Cass,  with  five  hundred 
men,  were  detached  to  escort  Captain  Brush  and  the 
military  stores  from  the  river  Raisin.  It  will  be  recol- 
lected, that  General  Hull's  army  consisted  of  only 
eighteen  hundred  men,  exclusive  of  the  citizens  of  De- 
troit. He  had  lost  many  of  these  in  battle,  more  were 
disabled  by  wounds,  and  more  still  by  disease :  McAr- 
thur and  Cass  absent,  with  five  hundred  effective  men, 
when  the  British  general  assailed  him.  Under  all  these 
untoward  circumstances,  something  like  despondency 


GENERAL    DUNCAN    M'ARTHIJR.  127 

might  show  itself  in  a  mind  more  vigorous  than  General 
Hull  possessed,  without  any  traitorous  design.  Had 
General  Hull  been  advised  that  Colonels  McArthur  and 
Cass  were  within  five  or  six  miles  when  he  capitulated, 
he  should  have  been  shot ;  but  this  was  impossible  for 
him  to  know. 

How  much  of  what  appears  to  be  accident,  has  a  pow- 
erful influence  in  fixing  the  character  and  destiny  of  man. 
Had  Colonels  McArthur  and  Cass  arrived  at  Detroit 
only  three  short  hours  sooner,  no  capitulation  would 
have  taken  place ;  a  battle  would  have  been  fought,  and, 
in  all  probability,  General  Hull's  head  would  have  been 
covered  with  laurels  of  victory. 

It  was  thought  strange  at  the  time,  that  the  British 
general  permitted  Captain  Brush  to  linger  quietly  for 
eight  or  ten  days,  within  eighteen  miles  of  Maiden,  when 
he  could  have  sailed  in  two  hours  within  a  mile  of 
Brush's  camp,  and  thus  with  an  overwhelming  force  have 
crushed  him  at  a  blow.  General  Brock  displayed  con- 
siderable generalship  in  not  crushing  Captain  Brush,  nor 
frightening  him  off.  Captain  Brush's  long  presence  at 
the  river  Raisin,  kept  General  Hull  continually  maneu- 
vering to  relieve  him.  General  Brock  kept  a  strong 
force  at  Brownstown,  through  which  place  he  knew 
Brush  must  pass  to  go  to  Detroit.  Had  General  Brock 
crushed  Brush,  or  driven  him  off,  Colonels  McArthur 
and  Cass,  with  their  five  hundred  men  would  have  been 
in  Detroit  at  General  Brock's  approach,  and  would,  I 
have  no  doubt,  have  defeated  him.  Such  is  the  uncer- 
tainty of  war,  that  a  few  hours  sooner  or  later  in  occupy- 
ing a  particular  point,  changes  the  destiny  of  an  army, 
and  the  character  of  its  commander.  The  gross  negli- 
gence and  imbecility  of  the  war  department,  in  neglecting 
to  have  the  artillery  in  repair  at  the  most  exposed  fron- 
tier post,  was  culpable  in  the  highest  degree,  liad  the 
artillery  been  fit  for  use  when  the  army  arrived  at  De- 


128  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

troit,  there  is  not  a  doubt  General  Hull  would  have  taken 
Maiden.  But  could  he  have  retained  its  possession,  with 
his  small  force  divided  for  the  protection  of  Detroit  as 
well  as  Maiden,  had  he  possessed  thej  cautious  intre- 
pidity of  General  Brown,  or  the  fiery,  impetuous  spirit 
of  General  Jackson  ?  every  military  man  will  answer 
"  No."  The  enemy  having  the  undisputed  control  of  the 
lakes,  this  combined  with  the  advantage  of  the  armistice, 
would  have  afforded  the  British  general  an  opportunity 
of  concentrating  his  forces,  without  resistance  from  any 
other  quarter,  to  act  against  either  post,  and  so  have 
beaten  him  in  detail.  General  Hull's  proper  course  was, 
to  have  retreated  to  Ohio.  True,  he  would  have  been 
censured  as  a  pusillanimous  wretch ;  but  he  would 
have  saved  his  army,  and  time,  which  unfolds  dark 
things,  would  have  retrieved  his  character.  He  had  not 
sufficient  courage  to  endure  the  ignominy  attached  to  a 
retreat,  nor  the  firmness  to  meet  the  enemy  in  the  field 
under  disadvantageous  circumstances.  He  stood  waver- 
ing and  irresolute,  till  he  lost  the  confidence  of  his  sol- 
diers :  while  dangers  were  crowding  around  him,  he  lost 
the  proper  time  for  action,  and  thus  fell  a  sacrifice  to  his 
irresolution. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

GENERAL  McArthur  returned  to  his  residence  on  Fruit 
Hill,  near  Chillicothe.  He  was  now  a  prisoner  of  war 
on  parole,  not  to  serve  in  the  army  against  the  enemy, 
till  regularly  exchanged.  It  did  not  comport  with  his 
ambitious,  enterprising  genius,  to  be  an  idle  spectator  in 
such  stirring  times,  when  the  very  existence  of  his 
country's  civil  institutions  was  at  stake.  Although  the 
expedition  under  the  command  of  General  Hull  had  been 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          129 

most  disastrous,  none  of  the  disgrace  was  attached  to 
him.  His  courage,  and  active  perseverance  in  every 
situation  in  which  he  had  been  placed  during  the  expe- 
dition, increased  his  popularity  with  the  army,  with  the 
administration,  and  with  his  fellow  citizens  generally. 

Although  he  could  not  serve  in  the  army,  he  was  eli- 
gible to  serve  his  country  in  a  civil  capacity.  In  the  fall 
of  this  year  (1812),  the  democratic  or  war  party  brought 
him  out  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  House  of  Repre- 
sentatives of  Congress  ;  and  he  was  elected  by  an  over- 
whelming majority.  This  was  direct  evidence,  that  al- 
though he  was  second  in  command  on  the  unfortunate 
expedition  with  General  Hull,  none  of  the  stigma  of  that 
disastrous  affair  was  attached  to  him. 

The  session  of  1812-13,  Congress  passed  a  law  to 
employ  a  large  additional  number  of  regular  troops  ;  and 
although  McArthur  was  still  a  prisoner  of  war,  not  being 
exchanged,  the  President  of  the  United  States  nominated 
him  Colonel  to  the  twenty-sixth  Regiment  of  United  States 
Infantry,  and  the  Senate  confirmed  the  appointment.  On 
the  20th  day  of  February,  1813,  his  commission  was 
dated,  and  immediately  forwarded  to  him.  He  accepted 
the  appointment.  He  was  authorised  by  the  President 
of  the  United  States,  to  appoint  the  company  officers  of 
his  regiment.  The  platoon  officers  were  soon  appointed  ; 
and  immediately  engaged  with  enthusiasm  in  the  enlist- 
ment of  soldiers  for  the  war.  He  was  now  active  in 
stimulating  the  military  feelings  of  the  citizens  of  the 
country.  By  his  energy  and  perseverance,  the  recruiting 
business  went  forward  as  well  as  could  be  expected,  and 
the  ranks  of  his  regiment  were  fast  filling. 

Although  the  regimental  officers  were  appointed  and 
commissioned,  for  the  large  addition  made  to  the  regular 
army  of  the  United  States,  no  general  officers  were  yet 
appointed.  On  the  23d  day  of  March,  1813,  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  by  and  with  the  advice  and 


130  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

consent  of  the  Senate,  appointed  and  commissioned  him 
a  brigadier-general  in  the  regular  army.  His  prospects 
were  now  flattering.  As  a  politician,  he  was  the  most 
popular  man  in  the  Scioto  valley.  Military  promotions 
were  crowding  upon  him ;  and  if  ambition  could  be  sat- 
isfied, it  would  be  supposed  that  McArthur,  in  his  rapid 
rise  to  distinction,  would  now  be  happy.  This  was  not 
the  case.  All  the  honors  conferred  upon  him,  he  con- 
ceived only  foretastes  of  what  was  laid  up  in  store  for 
him.  When  he  read  history,  he  discovered  that  many 
others,  before  they  arrived  at  his  age,  had  climbed  much 
higher  on  the  ladder  of  fame  ;  and  he  could  not  rest  sat- 
isfied with  a  character  which  only  placed  him  in  medio- 
crity. When  Bonaparte  had  conquered  half  the  world, 
and  was  acknowledged  dictator  to  half  Europe,  he  was 
as  far  from  being  satisfied  as  when  he  was  an  humble 
lieutenant  of  artillery.  So  true  is  it,  that  "  man  never  is, 
but  always  to  be,  blest." 

In  April,  1813,  General  McArthur  was  officially  in- 
formed by  the  war  department,  that  the  prisoners  cap- 
tured at  the  surrender  of  Detroit  by  General  Hull,  were 
exchanged.  He  was  again  free  to  act  in  the  army.  He 
then  resigned  his  seat  in  the  House  of  Representatives 
of  the  Congress  of  the  United  States ;  preferring  the 
honors  and  dangers,  and  thrilling  excitements  of  the 
"  tented  field,"  to  the  dull  round  of  tautology  in  civil 
life.  General  Harrison  then  commanded  the  north- 
western army ;  and  to  his  head-quarters  McArthur  re- 
paired, with  as  much  glee  as  ever  young  man  or  maiden 
went  to  a  splendid  ball,  to  riot  in  the  pleasures  of  the 
lively  dance. 

The  fall  of  Detroit  into  the  enemy's  possession,  af- 
forded them  the  means  of  controlling  the  movements  of 
the  north-western  Indians.  This  advantage,  together 
with  the  hitherto  uncontrolled  navigation  of  lake  Erie, 
afforded  the  enemy  an  easy  and  speedy  means  of  concen- 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          131 

orating  their  whole  force  at  any  point,  where  they  might 
think  proper  to  invade  our  frontier.  General  Harrison 
had  now  a  critical  and  responsible  duty  to  perform.  The 
enemy  having  the  command  of  the  lakes,  could  move 
from  place  to  place  without  risk  or  danger ;  and  if  any 
of  our  advanced  posts  were  weakly  guarded,  they  could 
attack  them,  and  fly  to  their  shipping  before  their  auda- 
city could  be  punished.  In  this  predatory  warfare,  the 
enemy  kept  our  frontier  settlements,  from  Cleveland  to 
fort  Meigs  on  the  Maumee  bay,  in  continual  alarm  ;  as  it 
was  impossible  for  General  Harrison  to  keep  a  strong 
force  at  every  exposed  post. 

About  the  time  the  enemy  were  preparing  to  make  the 
attack  on  fort  Stevenson,  at  Lower  Sandusky,  where  the 
brave  Major  Croghan  commanded,  General  McArthur 
was  at  Chillicothe,  arranging  some  money  matters  for  the 
supply  of  the  army-  General  Harrison  sent  an  express 
to  General  McArthur,  with  orders  to  hurry  on  to  the 
scene  of  action,  and  bring  with  him  all  the  militia  he 
could  ;  as  the  enemy,  both  white  and  red,  were  collecting 
in  force,  and  were  hovering  on  the  coast  of  lake  Erie, 
and  were  preparing  to  strike  a  fatal  blow  at  some  of  the 
exposed  posts.  McArthur  had  not  resigned  his  office  of 
major-general  of  Ohio  militia;  and  as  time  would  be  lost 
in  making  a  regular  draft  on  the  militia,  he  ordered  the 
second  division  of  militia  to  march  in  mass.  This 
march  of  the  militia  was  named  the  "  general  call."  As 
soon  as  Governor  Meigs  was  advised  of  the  call  made  by 
General  McArthur,  he  went  forward  and  assumed  in  per- 
son the  command  of  the  militia  now  under  arms.  Gen- 
eral McArthur  went  forward  to  the  scene  of  action,  and 
the  militia  followed  in  thousands.  So  promptly  were  his 
orders  obeyed,  that  in  a  few  days  the  Sandusky  plains 
were  covered  with  nearly  eight  thousand  men,  mostly 
from  the  Scioto  valley.  This  rush  of  militia  to  defend 
the  exposed  frontier  of  our  country*,  bore  honorable 
10 


132  A  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

testimony  that  the  patriotism  of  the  citizens  of  the  Scioto 
valley  did  not  consist  of  noisy  professions,  but  of  prac- 
tical service  in  defense  of  their  country.  This  general 
turn-out  of  the  militia,  proves  that  General  Massie,  and 
the  few  pioneers  who  followed  him  into  the  wilderness, 
and  assisted  him  in  making  the  first  settlements  in  the 
fertile  valley  of  the  Scioto  river,  had  infused  their  own 
daring  and  enterprising  spirk  into  the  mass  of  the  com- 
munity. Among  these  eight  thousand  militia,  were  found 
in  the  ranks,  as  private  soldiers,  judges,  merchants,  law- 
yers, preachers,  doctors,  mechanics,  farmers,  and  labor- 
ers of  every  description ;  all  anxious  to  repulse  the  ruth- 
less invaders  of  our  soil.  Indeed,  the  Scioto  country  was 
so  stripped  of  its  male  population  on  this  occasion,  that 
the  women,  in  their  absence,  were  compelled  to  carry 
their  grain  to  mill,  or  let  their  children  suffer  for  want. 
The  wife  of  the  author  of  this  narrative  went  to  mill  sev- 
eral times,  sitting  on  her  bag  of  wheat,  during  his  ab- 
sence ;  and  he  trusts  she  would  do  it  again,  if  the  same 
exigency  should  take  place. 

At  the  time  this  host  of  militia  arrived  in  the  Sandusky 
plains,  General  Harrison's  head-quarters  was  at  fort 
Seneca,  nine  miles  from  fort  Stevenson.  The  brave  Ma- 
jor Croghan,  of  Kentucky,  was  entrusted  with  the  com- 
mand of  the  latter  fort,  when  the  British  general,  with 
his  mongrel  host,  made  a  violent  attack  on  the  place. 
The  enemy  were  resisted  by  some  of  the  best  game  blood 
of  the  western  pioneers  ;  and  although  the  enemy  made 
repeated  and  most  desperate  assaults  on  the  place,  they 
were  repulsed  at  every  onset,  with  considerable  loss  in 
killed,  wounded,  and  many  prisoners.  The  enemy,  after 
receiving  this  severe  drubbing,  hauled  off  to  their  den  in 
fort  Maiden. 

About  the  same  time,  Governor  Meigs  arrived  at 
Upper  Sandusky  with  his  thousands,  and  formed  what 
was  called  the  "  grand  camp  of  Ohio  militia."  During 


GENERAL   DUNCAN    M'ARTHUR.  133 

the  time  of  these  transactions,  Commodore  Perry,  and 
his  artificers  and  crews,  were  using  every  effort  to  pre- 
pare a  fleet  of  ships,  to  contend  with  the  enemy  for  the 
mastery  on  the  lakes.  The  Kentucky  volunteers,  con- 
sisting of  four  thousand  men,  under  the  command  of  the 
venerated  Governor  Shelby,  were  shortly  expected  on  the 
coast  of  lake  Erie.  General  McArthur  was  detailed  to 
assume  the  command  and  defense  of  fort  Meigs.  Gen- 
eral Harrison  directed  Governor  Meigs,  to  discharge  all 
his  men  but  two  thousand.  Commodore  Perry  at  length 
was  on  the  lake  with  his  ships  and  crews,  seeking  the 
enemy's  fleet.  Governor  Shelby  was  on  his  march  with 
his  four  thousand  volunteers,  all  was  bustle  and  prepar- 
ation for  the  invasion  of  Canada.  These  were  stirring 
times :  Kentucky  and  Ohio's  best  blood  was  in  motion. 
General  Harrison  had  now  more  force  under  his  control, 
than  was  deemed  necessary  to  accomplish  the  object  of 
the  expedition.  Governor  Meigs  was  directed  to  dis- 
charge the  remaining  two  thousand  Ohio  troops  under  his 
command.  This  order  gave  great  offence  to  the  officers 
of  Ohio  militia,  as  they  were  anxious  to  be  employed  on 
the  expedition  against  Canada.  On  the  morning  of  the 
day  on  which  they  were  discharged,  the  officers  held  a 
grand  caucus,  in  which  they  passed  some  resolutions, 
disapprobating  the  conduct  of  General  Harrison.  They 
were  now  in  ill  humor,  and  remembered  that  they  had 
suffered  numerous  grievances  at  his  hands.  General 
Harrison  had  given  orders  to  the  commissaries  of  provi- 
sion, first  to  issue  such  flour  as  was  "  in  a  damageable 
state."  This  order  was  construed  to  mean,  that  General 
Harrison  had  ordered  the  Ohio  troops  to  be  fed  on  dam- 
aged flour.  The  true  cause  of  this  ill  humor  among  the 
Ohio  officers,  was  chagrin  on  account  of  being  disap- 
pointed, in  not  being  employed  on  the  meditated  expedi- 
tion against  Upper  Canada.  They  were  wrathy  that  the 
Kentuckians  were  to  have  the  honor  of  breaking  up  the 


134  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Maiden  hornet's  nest.  They  blamed  General  Harrison 
for  partiality  in  favor  of  the  land  that  breeds  "  half  horse, 
half  alligator,  tipped  off  with  the  snapping  turtle." 

Commodore  Perry,  with  his  fleet,  touched  at  the  San- 
dusky  bay ;  General  Harrison  lent  him  all  the  aid  in  his 
power ;  and  furnished  him  with  as  many  men,  to  man 
his  ships,  as  could  find  room  for  action.  It  was  now 
evident,  that  could  we  force  the  command  of  the  lakes,  a 
host  would  rush  upon  the  Canada  shore,  that  would  be 
irresistible.  On  the  10th  of  September,  Qommodore 
Perry  met  the  British  fleet :  a  desperate  conflict  ensued, 
but  victory  crowned  "  the  star-spangled  banner."  The 
enemy's  fleet  were  defeated,  and  all  captured.  "  This 
victory  removed  the  principal  barrier  to  the  conquest  of 
Maiden,  and  the  recovery  of  the  Michigan  territory,  and 
was  the  signal  for  active  offensive  operations,"  to  recover 
what  had  been  lost  under  General  Hull. 

Commodore  Perry's  splendid  victory  gave  a  fresh 
impetus  to  the  army.  "  Immediately  all  was  bustle  and 
preparation.  The  General  began  to  concentrate  his 
forces  at  the  mo.uth  of  the  Portage  river.  Gov.  Shelby 
was  on  his  march  to  join  him  with  4000  volunteers  from 
Kentucky.  General  McArthur  had  arrived  at  Fort 
Meigs.  Gen.  Cass  had  also  reached  -Upper  Sandusky. 
Col.  Hill  with  a  regiment  of  Pennsylvania  volunteers 
was  advancing  from  Erie.  In  short  about  7000  men 
were  in  motion  for  the  long-delayed  invasion  of  Canada. 
The  greatest  activity  was  visible  in  camp.  Boats  were 
collected ;  beef  jerked  ;  bread  baked,  and  the  superfluous 
baggage  secured  in  block  houses. 

"  On  the  17th  September,  Gov.  Shelby  at  the  head  of 
4000  volunteers  from  Kentucky  arrived  at  the  mouth  of 
Portage.  This  formidable  corps  were  all  mounted ; 
but  it  was  deemed  best  for  them  to  act  as  infantry.  In 
order  to  secure  their  horses  against  escape,  it  was  only 
necessary  to  build  a  substantial  log  fence  from  Sandusky 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          135 

bay  to  Portage  river,  about  two  miles  distant  from  each 
other  ;  this  done,  the  horses  were  provided  with  a  lux- 
uriant natural  pasture  of  nearly  100,000  acres.  The 
number  of  horses  left  on  the  peninsula,  during  the  ab- 
sence of  the  army  in  Canada,  was  upwards  of  5000,  for 
the  most  part,  of  the  first  size  and  condition  ! 

"  On  the  20th,  Gen.  McArthur's  brigade,  from  Fort 
Meigs,  joined  the  main  body  at  Portage,  after  a  fatiguing 
march  of  three  days  down  the  lake  coast,  and  through  a 
part  of  the  immense  prairie  that  skirts  the  southern  shore 
of  Lake  Erie  from  Portage  river  to  within  a  few  miles 
of  Brownstown.  In  this  toilsome  march,  the  guides  of- 
ten lost  the  point  of  direction  as  they  were  struggling 
with  the  thick  and  lofty  grass  that  impeded  their  pro- 
gress. Frequently  it  became  necessary,  to  hoist  a  sol- 
dier until  his  feet  rested  upon  the  shoulders  of  another, 
before  he  could  get  a  view  above  the  top  of  the  grass  to 
ascertain  their  course. 

"Col.  Johnson's  regiment  remained  at  Fort  Meigs, 
but  had  orders  to  approach  Detroit  by  land.  Such  of 
Col.  Hill's  Pennsylvania  detached  militia  as  chose  not 
to  cross  into  Canada,  were  ordered  to  guard  the  British 
prisoners,  taken  by  Com.  Perry,  to  Chillicothe.  The 
different  posts  on  the  American  side  of  the  lake  were 
left  in  charge  of  the  Ohio  militia.  Fort  Meigs  was  re- 
duced in  its  picketing  from  eight  acres  to  one.  About 
five  hundred  Kentucky  volunteers  remained  on  the  pen- 
insula to  guard  the  horses  and  stores. 

"  Every  thing  being  now  ready,  the  embarkation  of 
the  troops  commenced  at  the  dawn  of  day,  on  the  21st. 
For  the  want  of  a  sufficient  number  of  boats  not  more 
than  one  third  of  the  army  could  embark  at  once.  There 
is  a  range  of  islands  extending  from  the  head  of  the  pen- 
insula, to  Maiden.  These  islands  render  the  navigation 
safe,  and  afforded  the  army  convenient  depots  for  bag- 
gage and  stores,  as  well  as  halting  places.  Put-in-bay 


136  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

island,  sixteen  miles  from  Portage,  was  selected  by  the 
general  as  the  first  point  of  rendezvous ;  the  first  stage 
in  his  passage  across  the  lake.  The  weather  was  favor- 
able. As  soon  the  first  division  of  boats  reached  the 
island,  men  were  immediately  detached  to  take  back  the 
boats  for  a  fresh  load.  Such  was  the  eagerness  of  the 
men  to  accelerate  the  embarkation  of  the  whole  army, 
that  they,  in  most  cases,  anticipated  this  regulation  by 
volunteering  their  services  to  return  with  the  boats. 
Every  one  courted  fatigue.  The  fleet  of  Commodore 
Perry  was  busily  engaged  in  transporting  the  baggage  of 
the  army. 

"  In  the  course  of  the  22d,  the  whole  army  had  gained 
the  island,  and  encamped  on  the  margin  of  the  bay, 
which  forms  nearly  a  semicircle.  The  Lawrence  and 
the  six  prize  ships,  captured  from  the  enemy,  were  at 
anchor  in  the  center  of  the  bay,  and  in  full  view.  With 
what  delight  did  the  troops  contemplate  this  interesting 
spectacle  !  The  curiosity  of  the  troops  was  amply  in- 
dulged ;  every  one  was  permitted  to  go  on  board  the 
prizes  to  view  the  effect  of  the  battle.  The  men  were 
highly  pleased  with  this  indulgence  of  the  General  and 
the  Commodore.  The  scene  was  calculated  to  inflame 
their  military  ardor  which  was  visible  in  every  coun- 
tenance. 

"  The  army  was  detained  in  Put-in-bay  during  the  23d 
and  24th  by  unfavorable  winds.  On  the  24th,  a  soldier 
of  the  regular  forces  was  shot  for  desertion.  He  had  de- 
serted three  times  ;  had  been  twice  before  condemned  to 
suffer  death,  and  as  often  pardoned;  he  met  his  fate 
with  stoical  indifference,  but  it  made  a  very  sensible  im- 
pression on  the  troops.  Two  platoons  fired  on  him  at 
the  distance  of  five  paces,  and  perforated  his  body  like  a 
sieve. 

"  On  the  25th,  the  army  again  embarked  partly  in 
boats  and  partly  on  board  the  fleet,  to  take  a  nearer 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          137 

position  to  the  Canadian  shore.  The  flotilla  arrived  a 
little  before  sunset,  at  a  small  island  called  the  Eastern 
Sister,  eighteen  miles  from  Maiden  and  seven  from  the 

*  O 

coast.  This  island  does  not  contain  more  than  three 
acres,  and  the  men  had  scarcely  room  to  sit  down. 

"  On  the  26th,  the  wind  blew  fresh,  it  became  necessary 
to  haul  up  the  boats,  to  prevent  their  staving.  The 
General  and  Commodore  in  the  Ariel,  made  a  reconnois- 
sance  of  the  enemy's  coast  and  approached  within  a 
short  distance  of  Maiden.  Capt.  Johnney*  was  dispatch- 
ed to  apprise  Col.  Johnson  of  our  progress.  Gen.  Cass, 
Col.  Ball,  and  Capt.  McClelland  were  busy  in  arranging 
and  numbering  the  boats.  At  sunset  the  lake  had  risen 
several  feet ;  indeed,  such  was  the  violence  of  the  surf 
that  many  entertained  serious  fears  that  the  greater  part 
of  the  island  would  be  inundated  before  morning.  How- 
ever, the  wind  subsided  at  twelve  and  relieved  our  ap- 
prehensions. 

"  On  the  27th,  at  nine  in  the  morning,  the  army  made 
its  final  embarkation.  The  day  was  fine,  and  a  propi- 
tious breeze  made  our  passage  a  pleasing  pastime.  It 
was  a  sublime  and  delightful  spectacle  to  behold  sixteen 
ships  of  war  and  one  hundred  boats  filled  with  men, 
borne  rapidly  and  majestically  to  the  long-sought  shores 
of  the  enemy.  The  recollection  of  this  day  can  never  be 
effaced  from  my  memory.  There  was  something  truly 
grand  and  animating  in  the  looks  of  the  men.  There  was 
an  air  of  confidence  in  every  countenance.  The  troops 
panted  for  an  opportunity  to  rival  their  naval  brethren  in 
feats  of  courage  and  skill,  they  seemed  to  envy  the  good 
fortune  of  our  brave  tars.  They  were  ignorant  of  the  flight 
of  the  enemy,  and  confidently  expected  a  fight ;  indeed 
the  belief  was  current  among  the  troops  that  the  enemy 


*  A  large  Shawnee  Indian  chief;  the  same  that  defeated  the  Edg- 
ingtons.     See  Massie's  Life,  page  40. 


138  A  SKETCH  OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

were  in  great  force  ;  for  it  was  believed  that  Dixon's  In- 
dians as  well  as  Tecumseh's  were  at  Maiden. 

"  We  landed  in  perfect  order  of  battle,  at  4  P.  M., 
three  miles  below  Maiden.  The  Kentucky  volunteers 
formed  the  right  wing.  Ball's  legion  and  the  friendly 
Indians  the  center  ;  the  regulars  on  the  left.  The  troops 
were  almost  instantly  in  line  and  shortly  commenced 
their  march,  en  echellons  for  Maiden.  The  troops  had 
been  drilled  to  marching  in  and  out  of  the  boats  and  to 
forming  on  the  beach.  Every  man  knew  his  place  ;  and 
so  well  were  they  masters  of  this  very  necessary  piece 
of  service,  that  a  company  would  march  into  a  boat,  de- 
bark and  form  on  the  beach  in  less  than  one  minute,  and 
that  too  without  the  least  confusion. 

"As  we  approached  Maiden,  instead  of  the  red  coats 
and  war  whoop  of  the  Indians,  a  group  of  well-dressed 
ladies  advanced  to  meet  us,  and  to  implore  mercy  and 
protection.  They  were  met  by  Governor  Shelby  and 
Col.  Ball  who  soon  quieted  their  fears  by  assuring  them 
that  we  came  not  to  make  war  upon  women  and  children 
but  to  protect  them.  The  army  entered  Maiden  by 
several  parallel  streets,  and  we  marched  through  the 
town  to  the  thunder  of  "  Yankee  Doodle."  The  ruins 
of  the  fort  and  the  naval  buildings  were  still  smoking. 
All  the  loyal  inhabitants  followed  the  British  army  in  its 
retreat.  The  fort  is  surrounded  by  a  deep  ditch  and  two 
rows  of  heavy  pickets.  What  cannon  and  small  arms 
they  were  unable  to  carry  away  were  sunk  in  the  river. 
The  enemy  in  their  haste  had  left  an  eighteen  pounder 
in  this  battery.  Three  miles  above  the  fort  is  an  Indian 
village  which  we  found  deserted,  and  so  suddenly,  that 
many  essential  articles  of  Indian  furniture,  such  as  brass 
kettles,  were  left  in  the  houses.  Here  we  procured  a 
plentiful  supply  of  green  corn,  potatoes,  &c.  This  vil- 
lage was  not  burnt. 

"  In  thtf  evening  after  our  arrival  at  Maiden,  Col.  Ball 


GENERAL    DUNCAN   M*ARTHTJR.  139 

dispatched  an  officer  and  twenty  men  to  prevent  the 
enemy's  destroying  the  bridge  across  the  Aux  Canards. 
The  enemy  were  found  on  the  bridge,  having  just  set 
fire  to  it.  Our  party  fired  on  them  ;  they  dispersed  and 
the  bridge  was  saved. 

"  On  the  28th  we  passed,  the  Aux  Canards,  and  en- 
camped two  miles  beyond  the  river  in  a  neat  French 
settlement.  A  small  party  of  "British  horse  showed 
themselves  at  the  bridge  and  then  scampered  off. 

"  The  next  day  we  reached  Sandwich  at  two  o'clock 
in  the  afternoon.*  At  the  same  time  the  fleet  came  up 
the  river  to  Detroit.  The  General  made  dispositions 
for  passing  the  river.  Governor  Shelby's  corps  remain- 
ed at  Sandwich,  while  Ball's  legion  and  the  brigade  of 
Gen.  McArthur  passed  over  to  Detroit.  The  Indians  ap- 
peared in  groups,  on  the  bank  of  the  river  below  Detroit ; 
a  few  shots  from  the  gun  boats  caused  them  to  disperse. 
The  Indians  did  not  leave  Detroit  till  the  boats  con- 
taining the  troops  were  half  way  across  the  river.  Just 
before  we  landed  on  the  American  side  the  inhabitants 
hoisted  the  United  States'  flag  amid  the  acclamations 
of  thousands.  The  army  were  received  by  the  inhabi- 
tants with  demonstrations  of  unfeigned  joy.  They  had 
suffered  all  that  civilized  and  savage  tyranny  could  in- 
flict save  death.  The  Indians  had  lived  at  free  quarters 
for  several  months.  It  was  therefore  natural  for  them  to 
hail  us  as  deliverers.  The  enemy  had  set  fire  to  the 

*  Two  miles  below  Sandwich,  one  of  Governor  Shelby's  volun- 
teers in  the  Sank  guard  discovered  an  Indian  at  the  distance  of  two 
hundred  yards,  in  the  act  of  leveling  his  rifle  at  our  men  ;  he  instant- 
ly left  the  ranks,  made  for  the  Indian  and  received  his  fire ;  the 
Indian  retreated,  but  was  closely  pursued  by  the  volunteer,  who  soon 
gained  on  his  foe ;  he  fired  and  brought  him  to  the  ground ;  but  the 
Indian  had  previously  reloaded  his  piece,  and  in  his  turn  fired  on  the 
volunteer,  who  received  the  contents  in  his  leg ;  he  was  at  this  time 
half  a  mile  from  his  comrades,  but  did  not  retreat  till  he  had  dis- 
patched the  wounded  Indian,  and  secured  his  scalp,  which  he  bore  in 
triumph  to  his  company. 


140  A   SKETCH   OF    THE   LIFE    OF 

buildings  within  the  fort,  but  the  walls  and  picketing  re- 
mained entire.  The  public  store,  a  long  brick  building 
near  the  wharf  was  injured  only  in  the  roof,  which  our 
men  soon  repaired.  In  the  course  of  the  night  there  was 
an  alarm  in  camp,  the  fires  were  extinguished,  and  the 
men  ordered  to  lie  on  their  arms. 

"  On  the  30th  Col.  Johnson's  regiment  arrived  from 
Fort  Meigs  :  they  immediately  commenced  the  passage  of 
the  river  in  boats  ;*  Gen.  McArthur  with  the  greater  part 
of  the  regular  troops  was  charged  with  the  defence  of 
Detroit.  It  was  the  general  opinion  of  the  inhabitants 
that  there  were  a  thousand  Indian  warriors,  under  Mar- 
pot  and  Split  Log,  lurking  in  the  woods  between  the 
river  Rouge  and  Huron  of  lake  St.  Clair.  The  friendly 
Indians  took  several  prisoners  in  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  Detroit,  in  less  than  two  hours  after  we  landed. 


CHAPTER  IX. 

"  ON  the  2d  of  October  every  arrangement  was  com- 
pleted for  pursuing  the  retreating  British  army  up  the 
Thames.  The  force  selected  for  this  service  were  the 
mounted  regiment  of  Col.  Johnson,  three  companies  of 
Col.  Ball's  legion  and  the  principal  part  of  Gov.  Shelby's 
volunteers. 

"  From  Sandwich  to  the  Moravian  towns  is  eighty- 

*  The  entrance  of  the  mounted  regiment  into  Detroit  presented  a 
fine  military  spectacle.  At  2  P.  M.  the  advance  of  the  column  began 
to  emerge  from  Belle  Fontaine,  and  were  visible  at  the  distance  of 
two  miles  from  the  town.  The  width  and  shortness  of  the  road  gave 
the  military  and  citizens  a  full  view  of  its  approach.  Both  sides  of 
the  street  for  a  considerable  distance  were  lined  with  spectators.  Sud- 
denly our  ears  caught  the  thunder  of  1100  horse  in  full  motion.  The 
whole  regiment  was  rapidly  approaching ;  and  in  a  moment  it  ivas 
in  the  midst  of  us  upon  full  speed  and  in  admirabla  order. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          141 

four  miles.  We  found  the  roads  for  the  most  part  good. 
The  country  is  perfectly  level.  The  advance  of  the 
troops  was  rapid ;  so  much  so,  that  we  reached  the  river 
Riscum,  twenty-five  miles  from  Sandwich,  in  the  even- 
ing. The  enemy  had  neglected  to  destroy  the  bridge. 
Early  in  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  General  proceeded 
with  Johnson's  regiment,  to  prevent  the  destruction  of 
the  bridges  over  the  different  streams  that  fall  into  Lake 
St.  Clair  and  the  Thames.  These  streams  are  deep  and 
muddy  and  are  unfordable  for  a  considerable  distance  in- 
to the  country.  A  lieutenant  of  dragoons  and  thirteen  pri- 
vates, who  had  been  sent  back  by  General  Proctor  to 
destroy  the  bridges,  were  made  prisoners  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Thames  :  from  whom  the  General  learned  that 
the  enemy  had  no  certain  information  of  our  advance. 

"  The  baggage  of  the  army  was  brought  from  Detroit 
in  boats,  protected  by  a  part  of  Commodore  Perry's 
squadron.  In  the  evening  the  army  arrived  at  Drake's 
farm,  eight  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  and  en- 
camped. This  river  is  a  fine  deep  stream,  navigable 
for  vessels  of  considerable  burden,  after  the  passage  of 
the  bar  at  its  mouth,  over  which  there  is  generally  seven 
feet  water.  The  gun  boats  could  ascend  as  far  as  Dai- 
son's,  below  which  the  country  is  one  continued  prairie, 
and  at  once  favorable  for  cavalry  movements  and  for  the 
co-operation  of  the  gun  boats.  Above  Dalson's  the  as- 
pect of  the  country  changes  ;  the  river,  though  still  deep, 
is  not  more  than  seventy  yards  wide,  and  its  banks  high 
and  woody. 

"  At  Chatham,  four  miles  from  Dalson's  and  sixteen 
from  Lake  St.  Clair,  is  a  small  deep  creek,  where  we 
found  the  bridge  taken  up  and  the  enemy  disposed  to 
dispute  our  passage,  and  upon  the  arrival  of  the  advanc- 
ed guard,  commenced  a  heavy  fire  from  the  opposite 
bank  as  well  as  a  flank  fire  from  the  right  bank  of  the 
river.  The  army  halted  and  formed  in  order  of  battle. 


142  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

The  bridge  was  repaired  under  the  cover  of  a  fire  from 
two  six  pounders.  The  Indians  did  not  relish  the  fire 
of  our  cannon,  and  retired.  Colonel  Johnson  being  on 
the  right,  had  seized  the  remains  of  a  bridge  at  Mc- 
Gregor's mills,  under  a  heavy  fire  from  the  Indians.  He 
lost  on  this  occasion,  two  killed  and  four  wounded.  The 
enemy  set  fire  to  a  house  near  the  bridge,  containing  a 
considerable  quantity  of  muskets  ;  the  flames  were  extin- 
guished and  the  arms  saved.  At  the  first  farm  above  the 
bridge,  we  found  one  of  the  enemy's  vessels  on  fire, 
loaded  with  arms  and  ordnance  stores.  Four  miles  higher 
up,  the  army  took  a  position  for  the  night ;  here  we 
found  two  other  vessels  and  a  large  distillery  filled  with 
ordnance  and  other  stores  to  an  immense  amount,  in 
flames.  Two  twenty-four  pounders,  with  their  carriages, 
were  taken,  and  a  large  quantity  of  ball  and  shells  of 
various  sizes. 

"  The  army  was  put  in  motion  early  on  the  morning 
of  the  5th.  The  general  accompanied  Colonel  Johnson  ; 
Governor  Shelby  followed  with  the  infantry.  This 
morning  were  captured  two  gun-boats  and  several  bateaux, 
loaded  with  provisions  and  ammunition.  At  nine  we  had 
reached  Arnold's  mills,  where  there  is  a  fording  place, 
and  the  only  one  for  a  considerable  distance.  Here  the 
army  crossed  to  the  right  bank ;  the  mounted  regiment 
fording,  and  the  infantry  in  the  captured  boats.  The 
passage,  though  retarded  for  want  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  boats,  was  completed  by  twelve. 

"  Eight  miles  above  the  ford,  we  passed  the  ground 
where  the  British  force  had  encamped  the  night  before. 
The  general  directed  the  advance  of  Colonel  Johnson's 
regiment  to  accelerate  their  march,  for  the  purpose  of 
ascertaining  the  distance  of  the  enemy.  The  officer 
commanding  it,  shortly  after  sent  word  back,  that  his 
progress  was  stopped  by  the  enemy,  who  were  formed 
across  his  line  of  march.  One  of  the  enemy's  wagon- 


TECUMSEH. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          143 

ers  was  taken  prisoner,  from  whom  the  general  obtained 
much  useful  information. 

BATTLE   OF   THE   THAMES. 

"  The  army  was  now  within  three  miles  of  the  Mora- 
vian town,  and  within  one  of  the  enemy.  The  road  passes 
through  an  open  beach  and  maple  forest,  generally  within 
a  few  rods  of  the  river.  The  enemy  had  made  choice 
of  a  judicious  position,  two  miles  below  the  Moravian 
village.  Two  narrow  but  deep  morasses  run  parallel 
with  the  river  for  a  considerable  extent.  The  first,  at  the 
distance  of  three  hundred  yards ;  the  second,  about  a 
quarter  of  a  mile.  The  British,  interspersed  with  a  few 
Indians,  occupied  the  ground,  in  two  lines  forty  paces 
apart,  from  the  river  to  the  first  swamp.  Six  brass  and 
two  iron  carriage  guns  were  planted  in  different  parts  of 
this  short  line.  The  Indian  line  of  battle  commenced  at 
the  first  swamp,  and  ran  to  the  second,  extending  down 
its  margin  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile,  forming  an  imper- 
fect hollow  square.  The  Indian  force  disposed  in  this 
order,  amounted  to  from  twelve  to  fifteen  hundred  war- 
riors, under  the  command  of  Tesumseh,  Walk-in-the- 
Water,  and  other  daring  chiefs.  The  British  regulars  and 
Indians  in  the  first  line,  amounted  to  about  seven  hun- 
dred. Such  was  the  position,  the  order  of  battle,  and 
the  numbers  of  the  enemy.  A  deep  river  on  the  left,  an 
almost  impenetrable  swamp  on  the  right. 

"  The  troops  at  the  disposal  of  General  Harrison 
might  amount  to  three  thousand  men ;  yet  from  the  nat- 
ural strength  of  the  enemy's  position,  and  the  peculiar 
nature  of  the  ground,  not  the  half  of  this  force  could  dis- 
play to  advantage.  To  turn  the  enemy  in  flank  was  im- 
practicable. There  was  therefore  no  alternative,  but  to 
attack  in  front,  and  that  without  cannon.  To  advance  to 
the  combat  on  foot  in  regular  order,  was  to  render  a  se- 
rious loss  of  lives  certain,  and  success  doubtful.  The 
11 


144  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

decisive  mind  of  Harrison  did  not  permit  him  to  hesitate. 
A  plan  of  attack,  at  once  bold  and  original,  was  instantly 
conceived ;  which  was  to  overwhelm  the  enemy  with 
consternation,  and  paralize  his  energies,  by  an  unex- 
pected and  irresistible  shock. 

"  For  this  purpose  the  mounted  regiment,  which  from 
the  active  nature  of  the  service  it  had  previously  per- 
formed, might  be  termed  the  veterans  of  the  army,  was 
drawn  up  in  close  column  in  advance,  with  orders  to 
charge  and  break  through  the  British  line.  Colonel 
Johnson  had,  however,  a  discretion  either  to  attack  the 
British  with  his  whole  force,  or  with  one  battalion,  re- 
serving the  other  for  the  attack  of  the  Indian  line. 

"  The  Kentucky  volunteers,  under  Major  General 
Henry,  formed  close  in  the  rear  of  Johnson's  regiment, 
in  three  lines  extending  from  the  river  to  the  first  swamp. 
General  Desha's  division  covered  the  rear  of  the  left  bat- 
talion of  Johnson's  regiment.  In  the  rear  of  Henry's 
division,  Colonel  Simral  was  placed  with  a  reserve  of  five 
hundred  Kentucky  volunteers.  Governor  Shelby  was  at 
the  crotchet  formed  by  the  intersection  of  Generals 
Henry  and  Desha's  divisions.  General  Cass  and  Com- 
modore Perry  volunteered  as  aids  to  General  Harrison, 
who  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  the  front  line  of  in- 
fantry, to  direct  the  movements  of  the  mounted  men  and 
to  give  them  the  necessary  support.  Such  was  the  gen- 
eral order  of  battle.  Now  for  the  disposition  of  the 
mounted  regiment. 

"  Colonel  Johnson  perceiving  that  there  was  not  suf- 
ficient room  for  his  whole  regiment,  increased  by  fresh 
volunteers  to  eleven  hundred  men,  to  act  advantageously 
against  the  British  line  only,  determined  to  make  a  sim- 
ultaneous charge  upon  the  red  and  white  enemy.  Ac- 
cordingly, he  divided  the  regiment  equally;  gave  the 
command  of  the  first  battalion,  and  the  honor  of  charging 
the  British  line,  to  his  brother,  Lieutenant  Colonel  James 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          145 

Johnson  ;  leading  the  other  battalion  in  person  against 
the  Indians.  The  advance  guard  of  the  regiment,  con- 
sisting of  a  hundred  and  fifty  men,  under  Major  Suggett, 
were  dismounted  and  placed  in  a  line  parallel  with  the 
enemy,  in  front  of  the  first  battalion.  This  line  had  the 
double  advantage  of  distracting  the  attention  of  the  enemy, 
and  of  keeping  up  a  fire  and  maintaining  the  ground  if 
the  horses  should  recoil  at  the  British  fire  (which  was 
the  case).  The  line  was  weak,  but  was  supported  by 
four  charging  columns  of  double  files,  with  intervals  of 
not  more  than  sixty  paces. 

"  Colonel  Johnson  also  dismounted  a  hundred  and 
twenty  men  under  Captain  Strieker,  and  extended  them 
from  the  first  to  the  second  swamp,  parallel  with  the  In- 
dian line  and  in  front  of  the  second  battalion,  which  he 
formed  in  two  charging  columns,  with  an  interval  of  four 
hundred  yards ;  Colonel  Johnson  led  the  right  column 
in  person ;  Major  Thomson  the  left. 

"  The  dispositions  for  the  attack  were  completed. 
The  American  army  had  arrived  within  a  short  distance 
of  the  enemy.  It  was  now  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon ; 
both  armies  were  ready  for  the  work  of  death.  An  aw- 
ful silence  succeeds.  Soon,  however,  it  is  broken  by  the 
sound  of  the  regimental  trumpet,  the  signal  for  the  com- 
mencement of  the  action. 

"  In  an  instant  eleven  hundred  horse  are  in  motion, 
at  full  speed;  a  fire  of  tremendous  sound,  at  least, 
from  the  British  line,  checked  for  a  moment  the  progress 
of  the  first  battalion  ;  but  its  gallant  leader  soon  gives  it 
an  increased  and  irresistible  momentum.  The  last  fire 
of  the  enemy,  although  delivered  at  pistol-shot  distance, 
had  no  other  effect  than  to  confirm  the  victory.  The 
charging  columns  broke  through  the  British  ranks, 
wheeled  and  formed  in  their  rear.  Never  was  terror 
more  strongly  depicted  on  the  countenances  of  men ; 
with  their  pieces  unloaded,  their  bayonets  unfixed,  bro- 


146  A   SKETCH   OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

ken,  huddled  in  confusion  or  trampled  under  the  horses' 
feet,  and  surrounded  beyond  the  possibility  of  escape, 
officers  and  men  were  seen  throwing  down  their  arms, 
and,  with  uplifted  hands,  exclaiming  « quarter.' 

"  So  unexpected  was  the  shock,  that  they  were  totally 
unprepared  to  meet  it ;  the  whole  was  the  work  of  a 
minute.  Their  artillery,  which  from  its  number  and  po- 
sition ought  to  have  been  an  efficient  defense,  was  per- 
fectly harmless  to  the  assailants.  There  was  something 
terrible  in  the  sudden  appearance  of  several  hundred 
horsemen,  clad  in  a  motley  garb,  screaming  like^  a  band 
of  furies,  and  approaching  at  full  gallop  through  the 
woods  !  Besides,  an  opinion  prevailed  among  the  Brit- 
ish troops,  that  the  Kentuckians,  vindictive  of  the  mas- 
sacres of  the  rivers  Raisin  and  Miami,  were  resolved  on 
giving  no  quarter.  It  is,  therefore,  not  surprising,  that 
terror  and  despair  paralized  their  exertions.  Six  hun- 
dred British  regulars  were  the  fruits  of  this  charge. 

"  On  the  left,  between  the  two  swamps,  the  contest 
was  more  serious.  Colonel  Johnson  most  gallantly  led 
the  head  of  his  column  into  the  hottest  of  the  enemy's 
fire,  and  was  personally  opposed  to  Tecumseh.  At  this 
point  a  condensed  mass  of  savages  had  collected.  Yet, 
regardless  of  danger,  he  rushed  into  the  midst  of  them  ; 
and  as  he  broke  through  their  line,  so  thick  were  the  In- 
dians, that  several  might  have  reached  him  with  their  ri- 
fles. He  rode  a  white  horse,  and  was  known  to  be  an 
officer  of  distinction.  A  shower  of  balls  was  discharged 
at  him ;  some  took  effect ;  his  horse,  his  saddle,  his 
clothes,  his  person,  were  pierced  with  bullets.  His  men, 
as  they  advanced  to  his  support,  were  successively  killed, 
wounded,  or  dismounted.  The  combatants  were  now 
closed  upon  the  whole  line,  and  a  desperate  conflict  en- 
sued. Many  of  the  Indians  disdained  a  shelter,  and 
fought  openly  ;  others  lay  concealed  behind  logs,  trees, 
or  bushes.  More  prudent  than  their  white  allies,  they 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          147 

reserved  their  fire  until  our  men  were  within  ten  or  fif- 
teen yards  of  them.  Colonel  Johnson,  after  receiving 
four  wounds,  perceived  the  daring  Tecumseh  command- 
ing and  attempting  to  rally  his  savage  force,  when  he  in- 
stantly put  his  horse  towards  him,  and  was  shot  by  Te- 
cumseh in  the  hand  as  he  approached  him.  Tecumseh 
advanced  with  a  drawn  weapon,  a  sword  or  tomahawk, 
at  which  instant  the  colonel,  having  reserved  his  fire, 
shot  his  ferocious  antagonist  dead  at  his  feet,  and  that  too 
at  the  moment  he  was  almost  fainting  with  the  loss  of 
blood,  and  the  anguish  of  five  wounds.  Yet  he  after- 
wards rode  his  bleeding  horse  several  rods  to  the  rear 
of  the  line,  where  he  was  helped  from  his  horse,  which 
immediately  died. 

"  The  death  of  Tecumseh  was  to  the  Indians  an  irrep- 
arable loss.  They  immediately  gave  way ;  but  continued 
obstinately  to  dispute  the  ground  for  a  considerable  dis- 
tance. Frequently  the  same  tree  would  be  occupied  by 
the  parties,  but  on  opposite  sides.  The  battle  lasted  about 
one  hour  and  a  half,  not  at  one  point,  but  from  its  com- 
mencement, where  Tecumseh  fell,  to  the  extreme  left, 
where  the  Indians  attempted  to  flank  Major  Thomson's 
line,  but  were  prevented  by  the  timely  reinforcement 
from  the  reserve  under  Colonel  Simral,  whose  fire  soon 
became  too  warm  for  the  enemy. 

"  Of  the  mounted  regiment  twenty-five  were  killed  or 
mortally  wounded.  About  fifty  were  besides  wounded, 
most  of  them  slightly.  Of  Governor  Shelby's  corps, 
two  were  killed  and  six  or  seven  wounded.  About  fifty 
horses  were  killed  or  disabled. 

"  Having  considerable  personal  knowledge  of  the  offi- 
cers and  men  composing  the  mounted  regiment,  the  wri- 
ter cannot  dismiss  the  subject  without  giving  the  reader 
some  additional  particulars  of  the  character  and  services 
of  this  distinguished  corps.  It  was  raised  in  Kentucky 
in  the  spring  of  1813.  It  was  soon  filled,  although  the 


148  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

busy  season  of  the  year  was  unfavorable  for  obtaining  vol- 
unteers. It  entered  the  service  about  eight  hundred  strong, 
but  was  increased  to  thirteen  hundred  from  arrangements 
proper  on  such  occasions.  On  the  5th  of  October,  it 
amounted  to  a  thousand  men  in  round  numbers ;  a  part 
having  been  before  dismounted  by  order  of  General 
Harrison. 

"  lis  first  service  was  an  expedition  to  the  banks  of  the 
St.  Joseph  of  lake  Michigan.  This  excursion  covered 
the  Ohio  frontier,  and  prevented  a  large  party  of  British 
Indians,  collected  at  Chicago,  from  marching  to  besiege 
Fort  Wayne.  The  inhabitants  of  the  Ohio  frontier  felt 
perfectly  secure  when  this  regiment  was  protecting  them. 
The  greater  part  of  the  officers  and  privates  were  pious 
men,  and  when  off  duty,  were  often  heard  singing  reli- 
gious airs,  or  engaged  in  serious  and  instructive  discourse. 
Indeed  it  resembled  in  this  respect  a  religious  congrega- 
tion. Discipline  and  obedience  was  cheerfully  observed. 
There  was  not  an  instance  of  desertion,  and  only  two 
died  of  sickness  till  after  the  battle  of  the  Moravian  town. 
It  is  almost  superfluous  to  speak  of  the  courage  of  this 
corps,  since  it  is  now  so  well  known.  Yet  there  are 
some  who  deserve  particular  notice. 

"  Let  us  first  speak  of  the  gallant  dead.  Col.  William 
Whitley  a  man  of  seventy  years  of  age,  a  soldier  of  the 
revolution,  and  possessing  an  ardent  patriotism,  had 
fought  the  Indians  in  twenty  battles  and  skirmishes,  with- 
out injury.  Having  a  particular  esteem  for  Col.  Johnson, 
he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  Capt.  Davidson's  com- 
pany, although  in  easy  circumstances.  His  love  of 
country  was  an  example  to  all  around  him,  and  would 
make  common  individuals  ashamed  at  not  being  able  to 
feel  as  he  felt.  When  speaking  of  the  war  and  his 
country's  rights,  he  would  say,  "  if  I  am  killed  the  ene- 
my will  only  deprive  me  of  a  few  days."  Col.  J.  had 
selected  from  fifteen  to  twenty  individuals  to  assist  him 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          149 

in  breaking  the  Indian  line.  The  command  of  this  for- 
lorn hope  was  given  to  Col.  Whitley.  This  select  com- 
pany was  placed  immediately  in  the  rear  of  Col.  John- 
son and  a  few  paces  in  advance  of  the  charging  column. 
A  moment  before  the  action  commenced,  Col.  Johnson 
turned  to  Col.  Whitley  and  observed  :  "  Your  presence 
animates  me,  it  will  insure  victory  to  our  brave  Ken- 
tuckians."  With  an  aspect  of  uncommon  firmness  he 
turned  to  his  men  and  said,  "  Boys,  we  have  been  select- 
ed to  second  our  Colonel  in  the  charge,  act  well  your 
part ;  recollect  the  watch-word  :  victory  or  death."  He 
led  on  his  Spartan  band.  The  battle  commenced  ;  he 
fell  without  a  groan  the  first  fire,  but  his  example  was 
not  lost. 

"  WTith  the  solitary  exception  of  Samuel  Theobalds, 
who  alone  remained  on  horseback  with  Col.  Johnson, 
the  whole  of  Col.  Whitley's  command  were  dismounted 
in  ten  minutes,  by  death  or  wounds,  or  horses  shot  un- 
der them  !  Theobalds,  by  order  of  Col.  Johnson,  never 
discharged  his  piece,  keeping  it  in  reserve  for  a  case  of 
necessity,  if  it  should  occur. 

"  Lieut.  Logan  was  mortally  wounded.  He  lived  in 
honor  and  died  gloriously,  regretting  his  death  only  be- 
cause he  left  a  wife  and  several  children  to  mourn  his 
fate.  A  young  printer  of  the  name  of  Mansfield,  was 
also  mortally  wounded.  Joel  Johnson  and  others  were 
anxious  to  put  him  in  a  place  of  security,  as  the  battle 
still  raged.  But  he  would  not  consent  to  be  removed, 
saying,  "  I  shall  die  in  a  few  minutes,  return  to  the 
charge  and  gain  the  victory  that  I  may  die  in  peace." 

"  The  mounted  regiment  was  greatly  indebted  for  its 
extraordinary  discipline  to  the  indefatigable  exertions  of 
Lieut.  Col.  James  Johnson,  brother  to  the  Colonel,  who 
has  always  been  remarkable  for  military  discipline.  He 
is  about  thirty-eight  years  of  age :  has  been  in  several 
expeditions,  even  while  a  boy,  against  the  Indians  living 


150  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

on  the  Wabash,  and  has  served  in  many  civil  situations 
in  Kentucky,  which  has  given  him  celebrity  and  standing. 
He  was  first  a  magistrate,  then  sheriff  of  Scott  county, 
and  afterwards  senator  in  the  legislature  of  Kentucky. 
He  had  two  promising  sons  in  the  action ;  the  eldest 
named  Edward  a  few  months  above  fifteen,  and  William, 
fourteen  years  of  age.  Such  was  the  ardor  of  these 
young  Spartans,  that  the  officers  had  frequently  to  re- 
strain their  eagerness  ;  they  were  both  mounted  and  of- 
ten among  the  first  in  pursuit.  The  youngest  is  now 
(1815)  a  cadet  at  West  Point. 

"  Major  Duval  Payne,  of  the  1st  battalion,  inspired 
confidence  wherever  he  appeared.  He  is  now  about 
fifty  years  of  age.  In  1792,  he  distinguished  himself  in 
a  personal  renconter  with  an  Indian  in  an  expedition 
against  them  ;  he  succeeded  in  disarming  his  savage  foe 
of  his  gun,  tomahawk,  and  scalping  knife,  after  having 
thrown  the  Indian  several  times,  who  as  often  extricated 
himself  by  rising  with  his  antagonist ! 

"  Major  Thompson  commanded  the  charging  column 
on  the  extreme  left.  He  dismounted  his  command  ; 
faced  to  the  left  and  extended  his  line  parallel  with  the 
second  swamp,  in  order  effectually  to  oppose  the  flank 
line  of  the  Indians,  previously  formed.  His  line  were 
instantly  engaged  and  sustained  their  share  of  the  action. 
He  is  apparently  between  thirty-five  and  forty  years  of 
age,  Justice  of  the  Peace,  Colonel  of  a  militia  regiment, 
and  Senator  in  the  Kentucky  Legislature  ;  sensible  and 
mild,  but  daring  and  undismayed  in  the  hour  of  peril. 

"  Captain  Jacob  Strieker,  who  commanded  the  dis- 
mounted line  in  front  of  the  second  battalion,  was  not  in- 
ferior to  Tecumseh  in  his  fame  among  the  old  Indian 
fighting  men  of  Kentucky ;  a  man  remarkably  taciturn 
and  reserved,  except  in  battle,  when  his  character  in- 
stantly changes.  Always  in  front  of  his  men  his  example 
was  surprising,  and  his  well-known  voice  was  heard  in 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          151 

every  direction.  He  is  fifty  years  of  age,  and  his  at- 
tachment to  Col.  Johnson  carried  him  into  the  field  at  a 
time  when  he  had  given  up  all  expectation  of  adding  to 
his  well-earned  fame. 

"  Capt.  James  Davidson  was  wounded  and  fell  from 
his  horse,  and  in  attempting  to  give  command  fainted  with 
the  loss  of  blood ;  bat  this  did  not  discompose  his  men  ; 
his  subaltern  officers  knew  their  duty  ;  and  while  their 
brave  captain  lay  bleeding  upon  the  ground,  led  their 
company  furiously  to  the  charge. 

"  Capt.  James  Coleman  and  men  did  not  less  distin- 
guish themselves.  After  Col.  Johnson  was  severely 
wounded,  he  ordered  these  companies  to  dismount  and 
strengthen  the  line  of  battle,  under  Strieker ;  animated  by 
the  voice  of  Capt.  Coleman,  the  most  determined  courage 
was  displayed. 

"  Major  Thomson's  column  was  composed  of  Captains 
Rice  and  Comb's  companies.  Capt.  Rice  was  without 
his  superior  in  bravery  or  discretion.  He  was  not  less 
distinguished  than  Strieker  for  his  early  and  gallant  con- 
duct in  numerous  battles  with  the  Indians. 

"  Capt.  Combs,  a  man.  of  thirty-five,  had  fought  under 
G  eneral  Wayne,  as  a  private  volunteer,  and  whose  looks 
and  remarkable  large  whiskers  struck  the  spectator  with 
strong  impressions  of  his  firmness  and  bravery. 

"  Captains  McCobe,  Ellison,  Matson,  and  Hamilton 
of  the  1st  battalion  deserve  great  praise  for  their  intre- 
pidity. They  are  all  men  of  intelligence  and  reputation. 
Each  led  a  charging  column  through  the  British  lines. 
Capt.  Ellison  received  several  rifle  balls  in  his  clothes 
and  saddle.  In  breaking  through  the  British  ranks,  a 
soldier  of  the  41st  attempted  to  fix  his  bayonet.  At  one 
stroke  of  his  sabre,  Capt.  E.  severed  his  head  and  brought 
him  to  the  ground :  a  second  made  a  show  of  resistance 
and  shared  the  same  fate.  Shortly  afterwards  the  Capt. 
led  his  company  against  the  Indians.  It  was  then  that 


152  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

his  temerity  had  nearly  cost  him  his  life  ;  an  Indian 
seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse,  and  attempted  a  blow  with 
the  tomahawk ;  but  the  sabre  again  prevented  and  the 
Indian  lost  his  scalp. 

"  John  Berry  had  his  hand  shot  to  pieces,  but  refused 
to  retire  ;  he  loaded  his  gun  twice  and  fired,  and  the 
third  time  was  prevented  from  the  blood  which  filled  the 
pan  of  his  gun. 

"  Major  James  Suggett  who  commanded  the  dismoun- 
ted line  in  front  of  the  1st  battalion,  and  at  other  times 
the  advanced  guard,  was  a  baptist  preacher,  about  thirty- 
five  years  old,  of  stentorian  lungs,  considerable  oratory, 
and  remarkable  for  his  personal  courage  from  infancy. 
Associated  with  him  were  Captains  Church,  Berry,  and 
Reding,  men  of  distinguished  valor  and  discretion,  and 
whose  men  were  equal  to  the  most  trying  occasions. 

"  The  forlorn  hope  were  truly  a  Spartan  band.  Samuel 
Theobalds  and  Joseph  Taylor,  the  first  a  lawyer,  were 
both  young  men  of  promise.  Benjamin  Chambers,  a 
member  of  the  Kentucky  legislature,  a  young  man  self- 
taught  and  of  a  strong  mind.  Eli  Short,  assistant  dep. 
Quarter-master,  Garret  Wall,  Forage-master,  Robert 
Payne,  William  Webb,  all  equally  determined,  formed  a 
part  of  this  little  corps,  and  survived  the  terrible  ordeal. 

"  The  greater  part  of  Governor  Shelby's  corps  had  not 
an  opportunity  of  participating  in  the  action.  This  cir- 
cumstance was  very  much  regretted  by  them.  Those 
that  met  the  enemy  on  the  left  flank  distinguished  them- 
selves. From  Sandwich  to  the  Moravian  town  the 
greater  part  marched  on  foot,  and  with  a  rapidity  that 
was  almost  incredible.  But  their  noble  Governor  was  at 
their  head. 

"  The  Indians  fought  bravely  and  sustained  a  serious 
loss.  Sixty-five  warriors  were  left  dead  on  the  battle 
ground.  Their  loss  was  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  kill- 
ed, besides  wounded.  Six  Americans  and  twenty-two 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  153 

Indians  fell  within  twenty  yards  where  Tecumseh  was 
killed,  and  the  trails  of  blood  almost  covered  the  ground. 

"  Among  the  trophies  of  this  day  were  six  brass  field 
pieces,  captured  from  the  British  at  Bennington  and 
Saratoga,  surrendered  at  Detroit  by  Hull,  and  again  re- 
covered. May  cowardice  never  again  be  entrusted  with 
their  defence.  About  five  thousand  stands  of  arms  were 
also  taken  between  the  mouth  of  the  Thames  and  the 
Moravian  town. 

"  The  day  after  the  battle,  a  part  of  the  army  took  pos- 
session of  the  Moravian  town,  which  was  deserted,  but 
where  was  found  most  kinds  of  vegetables  in  abundance, 
which  were  very  acceptable  to  men  who  had  subsisted 
several  days  on  fresh  beef  without  bread  or  salt.  Exten- 
sive corn-fields  afforded  an  excellent  range  for  the  horses. 
So  panic-struck  were  the  Indian  women  at  the  advance 
of  the  troops  to  the  town,  that  some  of  them  actually 
threw  their  young  children  into  the  Thames,  to  prevent 
their  being  massacred  by  the  Americans  !*  The  flight  of 
the  Indians  from  the  town  was  so  sudden,  that  their  ket- 
tles were  yet  boiling  over  their  fires.  The  town  was 
destroyed  by  the  troops  previous  to  their  leaving  it. 
Among  the  reasons  assigned  to  justify  the  measure,  it 
was  alleged  that  these  Indians  had  been  among  the  fore- 
most in  massacring  our  men  at  the  river  Raisin,  and  that 
the  town,  if  it  were  spared,  would  afford  a  convenient 
shelter  for  the  British  allies  during  the  winter,  and  from 
which  they  could  easily  pass  into  the  Michigan  territory, 
to  plunder  and  murder  the  inhabitants. 

"  General  Proctor  abandoned  his  army  at  the  very 
moment  Johnson's  bugle  sounded  the  charge.  An  escort 
of  forty  dragoons  and  a  few  cowardly  Indians  accom- 

*  I  had  this  fact  from  an  American  gentleman,  who  was  at  Ox- 
ford, when  Proctor  and  the  Indians  passed  through  there  on  their 
way  to  Burlington  heights.  The  squaws  were  then  bewailing  the 
loss  of  their  children. 


154  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

panied  him.  A  few  of  Governor  Shelby's  men,  who 
had  procured  horses,  pursued  him  i  and  at  one  time  were 
within  a  hundred  yards  of  him,  but  were  too  few  in  num- 
ber to  attack  his  guard^  His  flight  was  rapid,  for  in 
twenty-four  hours  he  was  more  than  sixty  miles  from  the 
scene  of  danger.  His  carriage,  wife,  sword,  and  papers, 
fell  into  the  hands  of  his  pursuers.  The  carriage  of 
Colonel  Elliot  was  also  taken. 

"  Three  wagons  loaded  with  specie  escaped.  A  depot 
of  three  hundred  barrels  of  flour  was  at  Oxford.  General 
Harrison  having  no  orders  to  advance  to  Burlington 
heights  by  the  way  of  Gran'd  river,  ordered  the  army  to 
commence  its  march  back  to  Detroit. 

"  At  the  skirmish  near  the  mouth  of  the  Thames,  an 
Indian  squaw  was  mortally  wounded :  she  was  left  to 
shift  for  herself.  Her  little  girl,  six  years  old,  remained 
with  her.  On  the  return  of  the  army  from  the  Moravian 
town,  they  were  found  in  the  woods,  at  the  distance  of 
half  a  mile  from  where  she  was  wounded  :  to  appearance 
she  had  been  dead  three  days.  The  girl  was  still  living. 
When  our  men  approached  the  spot,  she  instantly  raised 
her  hands,  and  distinctly  articulated  "  dont .'"  She  was 
taken  to  Detroit,  where  her  fate  and  sprightliness  excited 
universal  interest.  An  officer  of  Governor  Shelby's  corps 
took  her  to  Kentucky,  with  the  humane  and  honorable 
intention  of  adopting  her  in  his  family,  and  of  giving  her 
an  education. 

"  While  General  Harrison  was  pursuing  Proctor  up 
the  Thames,  the  Ottawas,  Chippewas,  Pottowatamies, 
Miamies,  and  Kikapoos,  proposed  to  General  McArthur, 
a  suspension  of  hostilities,  and  agreed  to  "  take  hold  of 
the  same  tomahawk  with  the  Americans,  and  strike  all 
who  are,  or  may  be  enemies  of  the  United  States, 
whether  British  or  Indians."  They  brought  in  their 
women  and  children,  and  offered  them  as  hostages  for 
their  good  behavior. 


Face  155. 


Walk-in-the-water. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  155 

"  The  array  returned  to  Detroit.  Captain  Elliot,  of 
the  Niagara,  volunteered  his  services  to  command  a  naval 
expedition  against  Michilimackinac  and  fort  St.  Joseph  ; 
but  the  weather  proving  unfavorable  for  a  number  of  days, 
the  season  became  too  far  advanced  to  risk  the  squadron 
on  lake  Huron,  till  spring. 

"  Lieutenant  Le  Breton  arrived  at  Detroit  on  the  15th 
bearing  a  flag,  and  a  letter  from  General  Proctor  to  Gen- 
eral Harrison.  This  letter  requested  humane  treatment 
to  the  prisoners,  and  a  restoration  of  certain  property  and 
papers  taken  on  the  5th.  As  the  letter  was  addressed  to 
the  general,  "  at  Moravian  towns,"  he  saw  no  reason  for 
Le  Breton's  journey  to  Detroit,  and  ordered  him  to  join 
General  Proctor  by  the  way  of  Buffalo  and  fort  George. 

"  After  the  return  of  the  commander-in-chief  to  De- 
troit, Walk-in-the-water,  who  had  been  in  the  battle  of 
the  Thames,  came  in  to  implore  peace.  When  he  crossed 
from  Sandwich,  the  white  flag  which  he  bore  in  his  hand 
had  attracted  a  great  crowd  to  the  wharf,  all  anxious  to 
get  a  near  view  of  the  distinguished  chief.  I  was  struck 
with  admiration  at  the  firmness  and  apparent  nonchalance 
with  which  he  ascended  the  bank,  and  passed  through 
the  ranks  of  the  Kentucky  volunteers,  whom  he  had  so 
gallantly  opposed  in  battle  but  a  few  days  before.  I 
never  saw  more  real  dignity  of  carriage,  or  a  more  stri- 
king firmness  of  countenance.  Yet  his  situation  was  cal- 
culated to  depress  his  spirits  and  produce  humility.  His 
town  was  in  the  power  of  the  Americans ;  the  British 
were  all  taken ;  the  Indians  had  just  suffered  a  signal  de- 
feat; almost  all  the  other  chiefs  had  submitted;  he  was 
without  the  means  of  living  or  resistance  :  still,  his  man- 
ner was  that  of  a  conqueror. 

"  A  few  days  after  Proctor's  defeat,  the  town  was  so 
full  of  famished  savages,  that  the  issue  of  rations  to  them 
did  not  keep  pace  with  their  hunger.  I  have  seen  the 
women  and  children  searching  the  ground  for  bones  and 


156  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

rinds  of  pork,  which  had  been  thrown  away  by  the  sol- 
diers ;  meat,  in  a  high  state  of  putrefaction,  which  had 
been  thrown  into  the  river,  was  carefully  picked  up  and 
devoured :  the  feet,  heads,  and  entrails  of  the  cattle 
slaughtered  by  the  public  butchers,  were  collected  and 
sent  off  to  the  neighboring  villages.  I  have  counted 
twenty  horses  in  a  drove,  fancifully  decorated  with  the 
offals  of  the  slaughter  yard. 

"  Governor  Shelby's  corps  and  the  twelve  month's 
volunteers,  were  all  honorably  discharged.  Traveling  be- 
came safe,  and  business  at  Detroit  began  to  resume  its 
wonted  course,  but  the  price  current  of  the  territory  was 
exorbitant  for  every  thing  to  eat,  drink,  or  wear. 
Whisky  sold  at  four  dollars  a  gallon,  beef  at  twenty- 
four  cents  a  pound,  cheese  sixty  cents  a  pound,  butter 
seventy-five ;  potatoes  two  dollars  a  bushel.  The 
army  was  well  supplied  with  rations,  as  were  also  about 
three  hundred  of  the  inhabitants  of  Michigan,  and  about 
two  thousand  Indians,  men,  women,  and  children,  who 
had  no  other  means  of  subsistence.  Adventurers  soon 
came  on  with  a  sufficient  supply  of  dry  goods. 

"  On  the  23d  of  October,  General  Harrison,  with  all 
his  disposable  regular  troops,  embarked  on  board  the  fleet, 
and  sailed  for  Buffalo,  in  obedience  to  the  orders  from 
the  secretary  of  war.  Previous  to  his  departure,  he  ap- 
pointed General  Cass  provisional  governor  of  the  Michi- 
gan territory ;  the  civil  ordinances,  as  they  stood  at  Hull's 
surrender,  were  proclaimed  in  force.  General  Cass  was 
left  with  about  one  thousand  men,  not  more  than  seven 
hundred  of  whom  were  effective.  The  men  were  indus- 
triously employed  in  preparing  winter  quarters  at  the 
fort.  The  Scorpion  and  Ohio  schooners  were  engaged 
in  transporting  the  supplies  from  Erie  and  Cleveland,  for 
the  troops  during  winter.  Troops  were  stationed  at 
Maiden  and  Sandwich.  The  campaign  closed."* 
*  Brown's  History  of  the  Late  War.  1815. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  !«' ARTHUR.          157 


CHAPTER  X. 

THE  winter  1813-14  was  sedulously  employed  by 
Generals  Harrison  and  McArthur,  in  providing  ways  and 
means  to  move  an  army  of  Ohio  and  Kentucky  troops 
down  lake  Erie  ;  that  when  they  should  join  our  northern 
army,  they  would  form  such  an  overwhelming  force  as 
would  be  able  to  break  down  all  the  enemy's  strong  holds, 
from  fort  Maiden  to  Quebec. 

The  number  of  volunteers  and  militia  called  into  ser- 
vice by  General  Harrison,  had  created  a  debt  of  large 
amount.  The  then  secretary  of  war  complained  loudly 
of  the  expensive  manner  in  which  the  war  was  con- 
ducted by  the  north-western  army.  General  Harrison 
admitted  that  he  had  employed  considerable  numbers  of 
volunteers  and  militia ;  that  numbers  were  requisite  to 
render  success  certain ;  that  he  had  succeeded  in  every 
object  the  government  expected;  that  by  his  success  he 
had  afforded  peace  and  security  to  more  than  one  thou- 
sand miles  of  exposed  frontier,  on  the  lakes,  on  the 
rivers  Wabash  and  Mississippi.  The  secretary  of  war 
determined  not  to  be  satisfied,  kept  up  such  a  continual 
grumbling  about  the  expenses  of  the  war,  that  General 
Harrison  felt  sore  at  his  continual  complaining,  and  in 
disgust  resigned  the  command  of  the  army. 

General  McArthur  being  the  senior  brigadier-general, 
the  command  of  the  north-western  army  devolved  upon 
him ;  and  with  that  command  his  responsibility  in- 
creased. As  this  was  the  first  time  he  was  placed  in  a 
situation  to  be  in  chief  command,  he  must  have  been 
proud  of  his  exalted  stand  among  his  fellow  men.  He 
was  popular  with  the  army  and  with  the  administration ; 
and  was  determined  that  no  exertions  on  his  part  should 
12 


153  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

be  wanting  to  retain  that  popularity,  which  cost  him  so 
much  labor  and  frequent  risk  of  life  to  secure.  As  he 
was  large,  strong,  and  healthy,  and  inured  to  toil  and 
privations  from  his  youth,  the  inconvenience  of  hard 
living,  and  exposure  to  the  elements,  did  not  depress  his 
spirits.  He  was  found  at  every  post  where  his  presence 
was  necessary,  enforcing  discipline  in  the  army,  and 
stimulating  his  fellow-citizens  to  engage  in  the  war  with 
spirit. 

General  McArthur  had,  previous  to  the  war,  built  an 
elegant  stone  mansion  on  his  farm  on  Fruit  hill.  From 
his  house  is  the  most  delightful  prospect :  the  town  of 
Chillicothe  is  as  plain  to  the  view  as  a  map :  from  his 
door  can  be  traced  the  serpentine  windings  of  the  Scioto 
river,  by  the  range  of  white  sycamore  trees  which  over- 
hang the  margin  of  the  stream :  farms,  without  number, 
present  themselves  to  the  eye,  as  far  as  vision  can  reach : 
the  hills  on  each  side  of  the  Scioto  river,  rising  to  con- 
siderable heights,  some  gradually  sloping  off,  whilst 
others  shoot  up  in  sugar-loaf  peaks,  whose  summits  at  a 
distance  appear  to  touch  the  blue  sky :  a  more  delightful 
prospect  can  scarcely  be  imagined.  If  an  elevated  situa- 
tion, with  a  variety  of  beautiful  scenery,  has  any  effect 
in  inspiring  the  poet's  muse  with  rapturous,  melodious 
strains,  here  would  be  the  spot  for  inspiration.  Such 
was  his  place  of  retreat  from  the  toils  and  cares  of  labor, 
or  from  the  storms  of  war.  "  Riches  take  to  themselves 
wings  and  fly  away ;"  all  our  care  and  prudence  cannot 
guard  and  secure  us  against  the  vicissitudes  of  life. 
About  ten  o'clock  of  the  morning  of  the  1 5th  of  April, 
1814,  his  splendid  mansion  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire. 
The  laborers  on  the  farm  were  all  out  at  work ;  none 
were  about  the  house  but  females.  The  fire  first  broke 
out  in  the  upper  story :  the  citizens  of  the  town  of  Chil- 
licothe, only  two  miles  distant,  could  distinctly  see  the 
fire  and  dense  smoke,  and  with  praiseworthy  activity 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M*  ARTHUR.          159 

hastened  to  the  scene  of  action ;  some  on  horseback, 
others  in  carriages,  and  many  on  foot.  The  progress  of 
the  fire  was  slow,  owing  to  the  circumstance  of  all  the 
partition  walls  being  of  stone ;  and  the  fire  proceeded 
from  room  to  room,  by  the  burning  and  falling  in  of  the 
roof.  This  afforded  time  to  save  all  his  papers,  and  all 
the  furniture,  except  such  as  was  in  the  upper  rooms 
where  the  fire  commenced.  It  was  supposed  that  the 
fire  was  accidentally  communicated.  In  one  of  the  upper 
rooms,  a  chest  had  been  laid  in  the  fire-place,  and  a  con- 
siderable quantity  of  cotton  clothing  had  been  piled  on 
the  chest.  A  heavy  bunch  of  soot  may  have  taken  fire, 
and  rolled  down  the  flue  of  the  chimney  on  the  cotton 
clothing,  and  caused  the  conflagration.  This  pecuniary 
loss,  though  great,  did  not  in  the  least  check  his  exertions 
in  the  army. 

As  the  enemy  had  retired  discomfited  from  the  upper 
end  of  lake  Erie,  and  the  Indians  were  suing  for  peace, 
most  of  the  regular  troops  under  his  command  were  or- 
dered by  the  secretary  of  war  to  be  transferred  to  the 
army  on  the  Niagara  frontier.  McArthur  had  a  number 
of  small  forts  to  garrison  along  the  frontier;  whilst  he 
kept  his  main  force  at  Detroit  and  Maiden,  to  overawe 
the  Canadians,  and  the  scattering  Indians  still  in  the 
British  interest.  The  summer  of  1814  was  passing 
away,  on  the  north-western  frontier,  without  affording 
his  enterprising  genius  an  opportunity  of  striking  a  blow 
at  the  enemy.  The  dull  monotony  of  going  from  post 
to  post  along  our  extended  frontier,  was  not  the  kind  of 
service  which  was  agreeable  to  his  active  and  energetic 
mind.  He  began  to  think  of  making  an  excursion  through 
Upper  Canada,  to  pass  through  the  enemy's  country,  till 
he  should  join  the  army  of  General  Brown,  near  the  falls 
of  Niagara.  On  the  propriety  of  his  intended  expedition, 
he  consulted  his  old  commander,  General  Harrison,  and 
likewise  General  Cass.  They  approved  of  his  plan. 


160  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

The  continual  growling  of  the  secretary  of  war,  deterred 
him  from  employing  such  a  force  as  he  wished.  He 
called  on  the  governor  of  Kentucky  for  a  few  hundred 
mounted  volunteers  ;  a  call  which  was  promptly  complied 
with  by  the  brave  and  generous  Kentuckians  ;  to  whom 
were  joined  a  few  mounted  volunteers  from  Ohio;  and 
the  detachment  set  off  on  the  expedition.  The  following 
is  his  own  detailed  report  of  his  expedition  through 
Upper  Canada. 

"  Head  Quarters,  8th  M.  District, 
Detroit,  18  Nov.  1814. 

*  SIR  : — I  have  the  satisfaction  to  report  to  you  the 
safe  return  of  the  mounted  troops  to  this  place  on  the 
17th  inst. 

"  In  a  former  communication,  I  had  the  honor  to  in- 
form you,  that  the  mounted  volunteers  were  marched  in 
this  direction  in  consequence  of  the  regular  troops  having 
been  withdrawn,  and  the  apprehensions  that  were  enter- 
tained for  the  safety  of  this  Territory,  of  which  I  was 
advised  by  his  Excellency  Governor  Cass. 

"  The  militia  detached  from  Kentucky  and  Ohio 
having  arrived,  they  were  assigned  for  the  more  imme- 
diate protection  of  this  place ;  it  was  then  deemed  ex- 
pedient from  the  ardor  and  species  of  the  force,  that  the 
mounted  volunteers  should  be  actively  employed  in  the 
territory  of  the  enemy,  with  a  view  to  destroy  their  re- 
sources, and  ultimately  paralize  any  efforts  which  might 
be  made  against  this  place  during  the  winter. 

"  The  valuable  mills  at  the  head  of  Lake  Ontario,  and 
in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  river  furnished  large  supplies  to 
the  army  in  the  peninsula,  their  destruction  was  desirable ; 
to  that  effect  the  mounted  troops,  consisting  of  six  hun- 
dred volunteers,  fifty  U.  States  Rangers,  and  seventy  In- 
dians were  put  in  motion  on  the  22d  of  October  to  pur- 
sue the  route  along  the  western  shore  of  Lake  St.  Clair, 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  161 

and  pass  into  the  enemy's  territory  near  the  mouth  of 
that  river. 

"  The  real  object  of  the  expedition  was  masked  by  the 
general  impression,  that  it  was  destined  against  the  In- 
dian towns  at  Saguia.  To  favor  that  idea,  boats  were 
prepared  for  the  reception  of  artillery,  to  be  conveyed 
through  lake  St.  Clair,  up  that  river  into  lake  Huron, 
and  to  co-operate  with  the  mounted  troops  in  the  attack. 
The  boats  were,  however,  employed  in  the  transportation 
of  the  troops  and  horses  across  the  river  St.  Clair  and 
Bear  creek,  which  empties  into  Beldoon  river.  This 
movement  was  absolutely  necessary  to  secure  that  se- 
crecy to  the  expedition,  which  could  alone  render  it  suc- 
cessful. All  military  movements  in  this  direction,  are 
rapidly  communicated  to  the  enemy  from  Sandwich  and 
this  place  :  it  was  therefore  deemed  improper  to  pass  the 
troops  across  this  river,  but  to  proceed  over  the  river  St. 
Clair,  down  to  the  Scotch  settlement  on  the  Beldoon,  up 
Bear  creek  about  thirty  miles,  and  across  to  the  Moravian 
towns,  a  few  miles  above  the  lower  settlement  on  the 
Thames,  where  the  detachment  arrived  on  the  30th  of 
October. 

"  We  were  very  fortunate  at  this  place,  in  taking  a  ser- 
geant in  the  British  service,  who  was  proceeding  to  Burling- 
ton, with  the  information  that  the  detachment  had  passed 
into  the  enemy's  territory.  The  capture  of  this  sergeant,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  "  long  woods"  between  the 
Moravian  towns  and  Delaware,  enabled  us  to  reach  the 
latter  place  undiscovered.  On  our  approach,  the  rangers 
were  detached  to  move  across  the  Thames  below  the 
settlement,  pass  in  the  rear  of  it,  and  guard  the  different 
roads  leading  into  the  interior,  whilst  the  troops  were  en- 
gaged in  swimming  their  horses,  and  transporting  their 
baggage  on  rafts. 

"  We  were  thus  enabled  to  arrive  at  the  town  of  Ox- 
ford, one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  distant  from  Detroit, 


162  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

before  the  inhabitants  knew  that  a  force  was  approaching. 
They  were  promised  protection  to  their  persons  and 
property,  upon  condition  that  they  remained  peaceably 
af  their  respective  houses  ;  otherwise,  they  were  assured 
that  their  property  should  be  destroyed.  However,  not- 
withstanding this  injunction,  and  the  sacred  obligations 
of  a  previous  parole,  two  of  the  inhabitants  escaped  to 
Burford  with  the  intelligence  of  our  arrival.  Their 
property,  consisting  of  two  dwelling  houses,  two  barns, 
and  one  shop,  were  instantly  consumed. 

"  On  the  succeeding  day,  the  5th  instant,  the  detachment 
proceeded  to  Burford,  where  we  were  informed  that  the 
militia  had  been  embodied  about  ten  days  previously  to  our 
arrival,  in  consequence  of  reports  received  from  Sandwich, 
that  our  expedition  was  expected  to  move  from  Detroit 
against  Burlington.  A  few  hours  before  our  arrival,  the 
enemy  retreated  from  Burford  to  Malcolm's  mills,  ten 
miles  distant,  on  the  road  leading  from  Dover  to  Burling- 
ton, when  they  were  joined  by  the  militia  from  Long  Point. 
It  was  my  intention  to  cross  Grand  river  as  soon  as  pos- 
sible, without  regarding  the  militia  collected  at  Malcolm's 
mills,  and  attack  Burlington.  To  my  great  mortification, 
on  our  arrival  at  the  river,  we  found  it  high  and  rapid 
from  the  late  excessive  rains,  and  learned  that  General 
Brown  had  recrossed  the  Niagara,  leaving  only  a  strong 
garrison  in  fort  Erie.  No  means  were  presented  of  even 
passing  the  river  on  rafts,  and  had  it  been  effected,  upon 
our  return,  the  militia,  contemptible  as  they  were,  might 
have  been  encouraged  to  attack  when  a  rapid  river  divided 
us.  Major  Muir,  with  about  fifty  Indians  and  fifty  mil- 
itia, was  preparing  to  contest  the  passage  :  a  battery  was 
also  erecting,  as  was  understood,  for  three  pieces  of  ar- 
tillery, distant  twelve  miles  on  the  road  from  Burlington. 

"  These  considerations  presented  serious  objections  to 
any  attempts  to  pass  the  river.  It  was  also  due  to  the 
past  sufferings,  and  the  future  safety  of  the  gallant  de- 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  »l' ARTHUR.          163 

tachment  under  my  command,  that  a  direction  should  be 
given  to  its  movements,  calculated  to  afford  compensation 
for  the  former  and  secure  the  latter.  It  was  therefore 
determined  upon,  to  attack  and  defeat  or  disperse  the 
militia  at  Malcolm's  mills,  move  down  the  Long  Point 
road  through  the  Grand  river  settlement,  destroy  the  val- 
uable mills  in  that  quarter,  and  then  return  to  our  terri- 
tory, either  by  a  movement  across  Grand  river  at  the 
mouth  to  fort  Erie,  or  along  Talbott's  street  to  the 
Thames.  To  that  effect,  a  detachment  was  directed  to 
remain  and  engage  the  attention  of  the  enemy,  whilst  the 
principal  force  should  be  withdrawn  and  marched  to  Mal- 
colm's mills.  We  found  the  enemy  consisting  of  four 
or  five  hundred  militia  and  a  few  Indians,  fortified  on 
commanding  ground,  beyond  a  creek  deep  and  difficult 
of  passage,  except  at  a  bridge  immediately  in  front  of 
their  works,  which  had  been  destroyed.  Arrangements 
were  made  for  a  joint  attack  on  the  front  and  rear.  The 
Ohio  troops,  with  the  advance  guard  and  Indians,  were 
accordingly  thrown  across  the  creek  under  cover  of  a 
thick  wood,  to  approach  the  enemy  in  rear,  whilst  the 
Kentucky  troops  were  to  attack  in  front,  as  soon  as  the 
attention  of  the  enemy  was  engaged  by  the  attack  in  the 
rear. 

"  The  enemy  would  have  been  completely  surprised 
and  captured,  had  not  an  unfortunate  yell  by  our  Indians 
announced  the  approach  of  the  detachment  destined  to 
attack  their  rear.  They  were,  however,  defeated  and 
dispersed,  with  the  loss  in  the  skirmishes  on  that  day, 
of  one  captain  and  seventeen  privates  killed,  nine  privates 
wounded,  and  three  captains,  five  subalterns,  and  one 
hundred  and  three  privates  made  prisoners ;  whilst  our 
loss  was  only  one  killed  and  six  wounded.  Early  on 
the  7th  instant  the  enemy  was  pursued  on  the  road  to 
Dover,  many  made  prisoners,  and  five  valuable  mills  de- 
stroyed. 


164  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE    OF 

"  Apprehensive  that  the  troops  could  not  be  supplied 
on  the  route  to  fort  Erie,  and  that  difficulties  would  occur 
in  the  passage  of  Grand  river,  together  with  the  uncer- 
tainty which  existed  as  to  the  position  of  our  army  be- 
low, I  was  induced,  on  the  8th  instant,  to  commence  my 
return  to  this  place,  by  the  way  of  Talbott  street  and  the 
Thames  ;  which  was  happily  effected  on  the  17th  instant. 

"  In  this  excursion,  the  resources  of  the  enemy  have 
been  essentially  impaired,  and  the  destruction  of  the  val- 
uable mills  in  the  vicinity  of  Grand  river,  employed  in 
the  support  of  the  army  in  the  peninsula,  together  with 
the  consumption  of  the  forage,  and  provisions  necessary 
for  the  troops,  has  added  to  the  barrier,  heretofore  inter- 
posed by  an  extensive  and  swampy  frontier  against  any 
attempts  which  may  be  made  this  winter  in  the  direction 
of  Detroit. 

"  With  the  exception  of  nine  thousand  rations,  and 
eight  hundred  bushels  of  forage,  the  detachment  subsisted 
entirely  on  the  enemy.  Of  private  property,  no  more 
was  destroyed  than  was  absolutely  necessary  for  the  sup- 
port of  the  troops,  for  which  regular  payments  or  receipts 
were  given.  It  is,  however,  much  to  be  regretted,  that 
there  were  some  partial  abuses  produced  by  the  unfortu- 
nate example  presented  by  the  Indians,  whose  customs 
in  war  impel  them  to  plunder  after  victory  ;  but  for  this 
blemish  there  was  some  excuse,  in  their  correct  and  gal- 
lant conduct  before  and  during  the  battle.  It  is  also  grat- 
ifying to  know,  that  they  were  forgetful  of  the  atrocious 
deeds  committed  by  the  Indians  in  the  service  of  the 
enemy:  neither  the  innocent  or  disarmed  have  been 
massacred  or  molested. 

"  The  honorable  deportment  of  the  chiefs  Lewis 
Wolfe  and  Civil  John,  was  truly  animating  to  all  the 
troops. 

"  It  was  essential  to  the  progress  of  the  expedition, 
that  the  horses  of  individuals  should  be  taken  to  supply 


Civil   John. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  105 

the  place  of  those  that  were  disabled  and  lost  on  the 
march  :  in  all  cases  receipts  were  given.  The  Michigan 
militia  were  invited  to  accompany  us  on  the  expedition  : 
not  more  than  twenty  accepted  it.  Of  those,  six  deserted 
near  Delaware,  and  the  remainder  were  permitted  to  re- 
turn on  the  next  day.  Lieutenant  Ruland,  of  Captain 
Audrain's  company  of  rangers  from  Detroit,  was  distin- 
guished for  zeal  and  intrepidity. 

"  The  patriotic  volunteers  under  my  command  have 
just  claims  on  the  gratitude  of  their  country,  when  it  is 
recollected  that  they  tendered  their  services  with  no 
other  assurances  than  the  approbation  which  always  at- 
tends disinterested  sacrifices ;  that  they  have  performed 
much  severe  service  duly,  at  an  inclement  season,  through 
an  extensive  and  swampy  district,  frequently  intersected 
with  deep  and  rapid  rivers ;  that  they  have  penetrated 
two  hundred  miles  into  the  enemy's  territory,  destroyed 
two  hundred  stand  of  arms,  together  with  five  of  their 
most  valuable  mills,  paroled  or  dispersed  the  greater  por- 
tion of  the  efficient  militia  of  that  part  of  Upper  Canada 
west  of  Grand  river;  and  the  whole  detachment  has  re- 
turned in  safety  to  this  place,  with  the  exception  of  one 
killed. 

"  The  ardor  which  the  troops  always  evinced  when 
they  expeoted  to  meet  the  enemy,  was  not  more  con- 
spicuous or  praiseworthy,  than  the  cheerfulness  with 
which  they  conformed  to  the  rules  of  military  propriety. 
The  officers  and  privates  of  the  detachment,  with  a  very 
few  exceptions,  merited  my  warmest  approbation. 

"  I  was  much  indebted  to  the  zeal  and  intelligence  dis- 
played on  all  occasions  by  Major  Dudley,  commanding 
the  Kentucky  battalion,  and  was  ably  assisted  by  the 
zeal  and  assiduity  of  Doctor  Turner,  of  the  seventeenth 
infantry.  Captain  Bradford,  of  the  nineteenth  infantry, 
my  brigade-major,  already  distinguished  at  fort  Meigs 
and  Tehoopcaw,  is  entitled  to  my  sincere  thanks  for  his 


106  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

exertions  under  every  difficulty,  and  I  have  the  support 
of  the  troops  in  assuring  you,  sir,  that  to  the  military 
talents,  activity,  and  intelligence  of  Major  Todd,  who 
acted  as  my  adjutant-general,  much  of  the  fortunate 
progress  and  issue  of  the  expedition  is  attributable ;  and 
I  cheerfully  embrace  this  occasion  to  acknowledge  the 
important  services  which  he  has  at  all  times  rendered  me 
whilst  in  command  of  the  district.  His  various  merits 
justly  entitle  him  to  the  notice  of  the  government. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be,  very  respectfully, 
"  Your  obedient  servant, 

"  DUNCAN  McARTHUR, 

"  Brig.  Gen.  U.  S.  Army  Com. 
"  To  the  Hon.  JAMES  MONROE,  Sec.  of  War." 

After  returning  from  this  successful  expedition,  the 
war  languished  in  the  north-west.  The  Indian  tribes 
had  mostly  sued  for  peace ;  but  it  was  still  necessary  to 
garrison  the  exposed  posts  along  our  frontier.  This  was 
done  by  a  few  companies  of  militia.  At  Detroit,  a  few 
companies  of  regular  troops  and  a  regiment  of  Ohio  mil- 
itia, guarded  that  place.  At  fort  Maiden,  a  regiment  of 
Kentucky  militia  and  a  battalion  of  regular  troops  were 
stationed. 

During  the  winter  1814-15,  McArthur,  now  com- 
mander of  the  eighth  military  district,  was  straining 
every  nerve  to  prepare  a  large  force,  to  be  in  readiness  to 
take  the  field  as  early  in  the  season  as  the  state  of  the 
roads  would  permit  the  moving  of  armies.  The  govern- 
ment had,  by  fatal  experience,  discovered  the  impro- 
priety of  sending  small  detachments  (such  as  General 
Hull  had  commanded),  to  do  the  work  which  could  only 
be  effected  by  large  armies.  War  is  a  trade  which  re- 
quires experience  to  learn  it,  as  any  other  trade.  "  The 
greatest  masters  in  the  art  of  war  may  err :  he  that  wars 
walks  in  a  mist,  through  which  the  keenest  eyes  cannot 
always  discern  the  right  path."  The  plan  in  preparation 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          167 

by  the  war  department,  was  that  General  McArthur 
should  cross  from  Detroit  into  Canada,  with  an  army  of 
seven  thousand  men  from  Ohio  and  Kentucky,  and 
sweep  Upper  Canada  to  York  on  lake  Ontario ;  and 
there  unite  with  the  northern  army,  and  proceed  down 
the  lake  Ontario  and  the  river  St.  Lawrence,  and  at  one 
determined  sweep  break  up  all  the  enemy's  strong  holds 
to  Quebec.  While  the  generals  of  our  armies  were  ma- 
turing ways  and  means,  to  carry  these  grand  and  splen- 
did military  projects  into  execution,  the  news  of  a  treaty 
of  peace,  happily  for  our  country,  reached  our  ears.  The 
bustle,  toils,  and  vexations,  incident  to  preparing  armies 
for  the  "tented  field,"  were  abandoned.  The  clangor 
of  the  horsemen's  trumpet,  the  rolling  of  the  drum,  nor 
the  shrill  whistle  of  the  fife,  was  scarcely  heard  in  our 
land.  The  militia  and  volunteers  were  discharged,  and 
returned  to  their  homes ;  and  peace  again  blessed  our 
land.  Congress  being  in  session,  when  the  treaty  of 
peace  was  brought  from  Europe,  a  law  was  passed  di- 
recting the  president  of  the  United  States  to  disband  the 
army. 

Our  country  stood  in  need  of  repose,  especially  the 
north-western  frontier.  The  inhabitants  on  the  shores 
of  lake  Erie,  on  the  river  Raisin,  upon  the  river  Detroit, 
and  up  lake  St.  Clair,  and  up  the  river  Thames  in  Upper 
Canada,  had  suffered  more  than  the  pen  can  describe. 
This  district  of  country  was  alternately  occupied  by  the 
American  and  British  armies.  The  suffering  soldiers 
paid  little  respect  to  the  right  of  property :  provision, 
clothing,  and  shoes,  were  taken  wherever  they  were 
found ;  and  in  many  instances,  the  dwellings  of  the  in- 
habitants were  torn  down  by  the  soldiers  and  used  for 
fuel ;  whilst  the  miserable  inhabitants  were  left  without 
subsistence,  clothing,  or  even  a  roof,  under  which  to 
shelter  from  the  storm.  General  McArthur  represented 
the  sufferings  of  the  citizens  of  this  district  of  country  to 


168  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

the  government  of  the  United  States.  He  stated  that  the 
sufferings  and  privations  of  these  wretched  inhabitants, 
were  brought  about  by  causes  over  which  they  had  no 
control ;  that  humanity  required  of  the  government  to 
extend  to  them  relief.  His  representations  had  the  de- 
sired effect :  the  president  directed  that  half  rations 
should  be  distributed  to  these  suffering  inhabitants.  Had 
it  not  been  for  this  relief,  many  of  these  unfortunate 
people  must  have  perished  of  famine  during  the  severe 
winter  of  1814-15.  In  giving  a  relation  of  the  sufferings 
of  the  inhabitants  of  Detroit,  Sandwich,  and  Maiden,  the 
author  is  not  drawing  upon  his  imagination  for  fanciful 
pictures  of  distress,  nor  trusting  to  hearsay :  he  was 
upon  the  spot,  a  witness  to  their  sufferings ;  he  com- 
manded a  regiment  of  Ohio  troops,  that  was  stationed  in 
Detroit,  when  the  grateful  news  of  peace  was  sounded 
in  our  ears. 

The  inhabitants  of  the  city  of  Detroit,  and  the  citizens 
of  the  town  of  Sandwich  in  Upper  Canada,  before  the 
war  took  place,  although  under  different  governments, 
were  as  social,  and  as  friendly  in  their  daily  intercourse 
with  each  other,  as  are  the  citizens  of  Cincinnati  in 
Ohio,  and  Covington  of  Kentucky.  The  war  had  for  a 
time  estranged  them  from  each  other ;  but  as  soon  as 
peace  was  proclaimed,  all  antipathy  created  by  the  war 
was  dissipated,  as  if  by  magic.  The  inhabitants  were 
seen  running  in  groups  across  the  river  Detroit  on  the 
ice,  and  in  tears  of  joy  embracing  each  other  in  the  most 
affectionate  manner. 

The  sound  of  war,  to  warm  spirits,  has  something 
captivating  in  its  thrilling  various  freaks  of  fortune  ;  but 
let  its  frightful  front  come  stalking  to  our  homes,  and 
then  to  witness  the  horrible  sight  of  dwellings  in  flames, 
wives,  and  children,  and  feeble  old  age,  fleeing  to  the 
woods  and  swamps,  for  concealment  and  protection  from 
the  destroying  hand  of  their  fellow  man.  Such  scenes 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          169 

are  the  constant  companions  of  war.  May  our  country 
never  engage  in  any  other  than  defensive  war ;  and  let 
all  the  people  say,  amen. 


CHAPTER  XL 

IN  the  course  of  the  summer  1815,  the  regular  army 
was  disbanded,  and  General  McArthur  bade  adieu  to  the 
"  tented  field,"  and  returned  to  his  family  and  home,  to 
attend  to  the  domestic  affairs  of  private  life. 

Previous  to  the  war,  he  had  deeply  engaged  in  land 
speculations,  as  well  as  in  locating  land  warrants,  and  in 
surveying.  During  the  time  he  was  employed  in  the 
army  his  speculations  stood  still ;  others  had  taken  the 
field,  he  now  found  himself  in  the  rear  of  other  land 
speculators  ;  he  was  now  determined,  by  renewed  vigor, 
to  make  up,  by  unceasing  industry  in  that  business,  for 
the  time  he  had  lost  in  the  war. 

Although  immersed  in  business,  he  could  not  refrain 
from  taking  a  part  in  the  politics  of  the  day.  In  the  fall 
of  the  year  1815,  he  was  again  elected  a  member  of  the 
general  assembly ;  and  was  upon  all  occasions  the  leader 
of  the  party  with  whom  he  acted. 

He  had  now  been  acting  on  the  public  stage  for  a  num- 
ber of  years,  in  various  responsible  situations,  and  his 
talents  and  business  habits  were  found  upon  all  occasions 
equal  to  any  draft  which  was  made  upon  him.  What 
confidence  the  then  administrators  of  government  had  in 
his  capacity  and  integrity,  the  following  letter  will 
explain. 

"  Department  of  War,  14th  Feb.  1816. 

"  SIR — Information  has  been  received,  that  the  princi- 
pal chief  of  the  Wyandotts  of  lake  Erie,  has  lately, died  ; 
and  that  the  whole  nation  is  disposed  to  sell  their  present 
possessions,  and  remove  into  other  regions. 


170  '         A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

"  It  is  an  object  of  considerable  importance  to  obtain 
the  cession  of  their  lands,  if,  as  it  has  been  represented, 
they  will  connect  the  settlements  of  Ohio  with  those  of 
the  Michigan  territory.  It  is,  at  the  same  time,  desirable 
to  avoid  all  appearance  of  solicitude  to  make  this,  or  any 
other  purchase  from  the  Indians  in  that  quarter ;  as  such 
an  impression  could  not  fail  to  be  injurious  to  the  interests 
of  the  United  States. 

"  Before  any  attempt  to  negotiate  for  the  cession  of 
their  lands,  is  made,  it  is  proper  that  their  disposition  to 
sell,  should  be  distinctly  ascertained.  If  they  are  will- 
ing to  sell,  it  is  extremely  desirable  that  the  proposition 
for  that  purpose  should  come  from  them. 

"  As  it  has  been  represented  to  this  department,  that 
the  person  who  has  been  chosen  in  the  room  of  the  late 
chief,  is  personally  attached  to  you,  I  have  been  induced 
to  believe,  that  this  service  can  be  more  effectually  ren- 
dered by  you  than  any  person.  I  will  thank  you,  there- 
fore, immediately  after  the  receipt  of  this  letter,  to  adopt 
the  necessary  measures  to  accomplish  the  views  of  the 
government.  Information  of  the  situation  and  extent  of 
their  possessions,  the  manner  in  which  the  cession  would 
connect  the  settlements  of  Ohio  with  those  of  Michigan, 
will  be  of  great  importance  in  deciding  the  question  of 
ultimate  negotiation  upon  this  subject. 

"  If  the  limits  of  their  possessions  should  be  found  to 
be  indistinct,  and  require  the  intervention  of  other  tribes 
in  its  adjustment,  the  presence  of  those  tribes  at  the  con- 
templated treaty,  will  be  necessary.  It  is  also  desirable 
to  ascertain  where  they  intend  to  settle,  as  that  fact  may 
have  some  influence,  not  only  upon  the  price,  but  the 
mode  in  which  it  shall  be  paid.  Should  the  information 
which  you  shall  obtain  and  communicate  to  this  depart- 
ment, lead  to  a  treaty  for  the  cession  of  those  lands,  you 
will  be  appointed  one  of  the  commissioners. 

"  For  any  expenses  which  you  may  incur  in  executing 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M'  ARTHUR.          171 

the  requests  contained  in  this  letter,  you  are  authorised 
to  draw  on  this  department. 

"  I  have  the  honor  to  be, 

"  Your  most  obedient  servant, 

"  WM.  H.  CRAWFORD. 
"Gen.  DDXCAJT  MCABTHTTR." 


In  pursuance  of  the  authority  delegated  in  the  fore- 
going letter,  General  McArthur  took  immediate  measures 
to  ascertain  the  views  of  the  Indians  on  the  subject. 
The  belief  was,  that  the  Indians  were  disposed  to  make 
a  cession  of  part  of  their  land.  Commissioners  were 
appointed,  he  being  one,  to  negotiate  with  the  Indians. 
The  treaty  was  held  at  a  place  called  Springwell,  three 
miles  below  the  city  of  Detroit.  The  commissioners 
succeeded  in  confirming  former  treaties,  which  were 
made  with  the  Indians  previous  to  the  late  war,  and  in  a 
cession  of  some  of  their  lands,  but  not  to  the  extent  the 
government  wished.  This  treaty  was  approved  by  the 
president,  and  ratified  by  the  senate  of  the  United  States. 

During  the  summer  1817,  General  McArthur,  and 
Governor  Cass  of  Michigan  territory,  were  appointed 
commissioners  to  hold  a  treaty  with  the  western  Indians. 
Fort  Meigs,  at  the  lower  end  of  the  Maumee  rapids,  was 
appointed  the  place  to  hold  the  treaty.  An  immense 
number  of  Indians  assembled,  and  a  large  scope  of 
country  was  ceded  by  them.  This  treaty  was  concluded 
on  the  29th  of  September,  1817.  In  order  to  induce 
some  of  the  principal  chiefs  to  accede  to  making  large 
cessions  of  land,  the  commissioners  had  stipulated,  that 
these  chiefs  should  hold  separate  tracts  in  fee  simple,  and 
exclusive  of  the  general  reservations  around  their  towns. 
When  this  treaty  was  laid  before  the  senate  of  the 
United  States  for  their  ratification,  the  senate  passed  the 
following  resolution. 

13 


172  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

"7n  senate  of  the  United  Stales,  Feb.  5,  1818. 
"  Resolved  by  the  senate,  that  the  further  consideration 
of  the  treaty,  concluded  at  the  foot  of  the  rapids  of  the 
Miami  of  Lake  Erie,  on  the  29th  day  of  September, 
1817,  with  the  Wyandotts,  Seneca,  Shawnee,  Delaware, 
Potowatimy,  Ottaway,  and  Chippeway  tribes  of  Indians, 
be  postponed ;  and  that  it  be  recommended  to  the  Presi- 
dent of  the  United  States,  to  proceed  to  further  negotia- 
tion with  the  said  tribes,  or  either  of  them,  in  order  that 
the  provisions,  whereby  it  is  stipulated  that  the  United 
States  shall  receive  from  the  said  tribes  a  cession  of  cer- 
tain lands,  and  grant  the  same  in  fee  simple  to  the  said 
tribes,  for  the  uses  therein  described ;  and  also  the  arti- 
cles and  schedule  of  the  said  treaty,  which  provide  for 
the  division  and  grant  of  the  said  lands,  by  the  chiefs  of 
the  said  tribes,  to  individuals  thereof,  and  so  that  the 
grantees  may  convey  the  same  to  any  person  whatever, 
be  expunged  from  the  said  treaty ;  and  that  such  portion 
of  the  lands  belonging  to  the  said  tribes,  as  shall  not 
be  ceded  to  the  United  States,  be  reserved  to  the  said 
tribes,  in  like  manner  as  has  been  practised  in  other  and 
similar  cases. 

"Attest,     (Signed)     CHARLES  CUTTS,  Sec." 

As  the  consequence  of  this  resolution  of  the  senate 
was  to  set  aside  the  late  treaty,  the  president  of  the  Uni- 
ted States  again  appointed  General  McArthur  and  Gov- 
ernor Cass,  commissioners  to  revise  the  former  treaty 
with  the  Indians.  The  Indians  were  requested  to  con- 
vene at  St.  Mary's,  early  in  the  month  of  September. 
The  Indians  met  the  commissioners  at  the  time  and  place 
appointed.  A  treaty  was  held,  and  further  cession  of 
their  land  was  made,  and  concluded  on  the  17th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1818.  This  treaty  and  cession  of  land,  was  ap- 
proved by  the  president,  and  ratified  by  the  senate  of  the 
United  States. 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          173 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1817,  General  McArthur  was 
again  elected  a  member  of  the  general  assembly  in  the 
house  of  representatives.  The  competitors  for  the  speak- 
er's chair  were  General  McArthur,  and  Mr.  Charles 
Hammond,  the  present  able  editor  of  the  Cincinnati 
Gazette.  McArthur  succeeded  by  a  small  majority. 
The  political  war  against  the  bank  of  the  United  States, 
commenced  this  session  of  the  assembly.  Mr.  Ham- 
mond, who  is  a  man  of  energy  and  talents,  was  the  leader 
of  those  who  were  opposed  to  the  United  States  bank 
locating  branches  in  the  state,  without  first  obtaining  the 
consent  of  the  state.  McArthur  defended  the  right  of  the 
bank  to  place  branches  wherever  it  should  think  proper ; 
as  the  bank  had  paid  fifteen  hundred  thousand  dollars  as 
a  bonus  for  that  privilege.  Mr.  Hammond  was  much 
the  best  speaker,  and  assailed  the  bank  and  its  supporters 
with  every  argument  calculated  to  make  proselytes  to  his 
cause :  sarcasm,  irony,  and  ridicule,  were  resorted  to. 
General  McArthur  made  no  pretensions  to  a  display  of 
oratory,  yet  he  was  by  no  means  a  silent  member.  He 
spoke  often,  and  with  effect ;  his  home-spun  speeches 
thwarted  the  eloquence  of  Mr.  Hammond.  The  bill  for 
taxing  the  branches  of  the  United  States  bank  to  death, 
was  defeated  this  session  of  Assembly. 

The  summer  of  1818,  party  strife  on  the  bank  question 
was  violent.  Every  man  that  was  able  to  scribble  a  par- 
agraph for  the  newspapers,  was  engaged  on  one  side  or 
the  other  of  this  momentous  question.  McArthur  used 
his  pen  and  his  tongue  without  avail.  He  was  a  candi- 
date for  re-election,  and  was  defeated.  A  considerable 
majority  of  the  members  elected  this  year,  were  opposed 
to  the  United  States  bank.  Mr.  Hammond  was  again 
elected  a  member  of  the  assembly,  and  by  his  talents, 
and  readiness  in  wielding  his  pen,  together  with  his 
strong  and  confident  manner  of  speaking,  was  able  to 
dictate  law  to  this  assembly.  A  law  was  passed  at  this 


174  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

session  of  the  legislature,  taxing  each  branch  of  the  United 
States'  bank  located  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  fifty  thousand 
dollars.  When  the  time  arrived  for  collecting  this  tax, 
the  branch  banks  refused  to  pay.  Mr.  Hammond  had 
provided  in  the  law  for  a  case  of  this  kind :  the  colletor 
was  authorized,  in  case  the  bank  refused  to  pay  the  tax, 
to  employ  armed  force,  and  enter  the  banking  house,  and 
seize  on  the  money ;  and  this  was  actually  done.  The 
collector,  with  an  armed  force,  entered  the  branch  bank 
in  the  town  of  Chillicothe,  and  took  what  money  he 
thought  proper. 

The  bank  brought  suit  in  the  United.  States'  circuit 
court  against  all  the  state  officers  concerned  in  this  forci- 
ble collection. 

Mr.  Hammond,  who  is  a  distinguished  lawyer,  with 
other  eminent  counsel,  were  employed  by  the  state  of 
Ohio  to  defend  this  important  cause.  The  district  court 
decided  the  law  of  Ohio,  levying  the  tax,  unconstitu- 
tional, and,  of  course,  null  and  void ;  and  made  a  decree, 
directing  the  state  to  refund  to  the  bank  the  money  thus 
forcibly  taken.  The  cause  was  appealed  to  the  supreme 
court  of  the  United  States.  Mr.  Hammond  defended  the 
suit,  in  all  its  stages.  The  supreme  court  decided  this 
cause  against  the  state  of  Ohio.  Thus  was  settled  this 
knotty  and  vexatious  question,  which  for  a  time,  threat- 
ened the  peace  of  the  Union. 

Although  the  bank  question  estranged  the  majority  of 
the  citizens  of  Ross  county  against  General  McArthur, 
for  a  time,  yet  the  many  important  services  he  had  ren- 
dered the  country,  could  not  be  forgotten :  he  was  again 
elected,  in  1819,  a  member  of  the  assembly,  by  his  usual 
majority. 

In  the  summer  of  1822,  General  Me  Arthur's  friends 
placed  him  in  nomination  as  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the 
house  of  representatives  in  congress.  Some  illiberal  and 
ungenerous  efforts  were  used  to  prejudice  the  public 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.          175 

mind  against  him,  on  account  of  some  deserters,  whom 
he  had  permitted  to  be  shot,  in  pursuance  of  the  decision 
of  a  general  court-martial  during  the  late  war.  These 
deserters  had  been  previously  condemned  by  a  court- 
martial,  and  pardoned  by  General  Harrison,  and  again 
had  deserted,  were  taken,  and  brought  in  to  head  quarters. 
General  Harrison's  disposition  was  such  a  mixture  of 
sympathy,  kindness,  and  humanity,  that  he  was  like  my 
Uncle  Toby — he  would  not  hurt,  even  a  fly,  unless  it 
was  in  self-defense :  indeed,  the  facility  with  which  par- 
dons were  procured  from  him,  had  a  pernicious  effect  on 
such  soldiers  as  were  discontented  with  the  service.  They 
concluded,  if  they  deserted  and  effected  their  escape  it 
was  well ;  if  they  should  be  apprehended  and  condemn- 
ed by  a  court-martial,  General  Harrison  would  save  them 
by  his  pardoning  power.  Under  this  state  of  things,  the 
public  service  suffered,  and  some  examples  were  called 
for,  to  check  the  daily  desertions  which  were  taking 
place.  McArthur  was  a  man  of  sterner  mould.  When 
the  command  of  the  western  army  devolved  upon  him  in 
1814,  he  convened  a  general  court-martial  in  the  town  of 
Chillicothe,  for  the  purpose  of  trying  the  numerous  de- 
serters that  had  been  apprehended  and  brought  to  head- 
quarters. The  court-martial  was  in  session  more  than  a 
month.  At  the  close  of  this  session,  twenty  six  of  the 
deserters  were  condemned  to  be  shot.  All  were  pardon- 
ed but  four.  These  four  had  deserted  several  times,  and 
were  retaken.  On  these  four  General  McArthur  permit- 
ted the  sentence  of  law,  as  expressed  by  the  court-martial, 
to  be  executed.  For  this,  during  the  canvass  of  the  election, 
he  was  bitterly  assailed.  He  was  charged  with  being  a  cruel 
tyrant — a  monster,  thirsting  for  blood.  Although  these 
charges  were  rung  against  him  in  the  bitterest  language 
of  malice  and  envy,  and  with  all  the  changes  that  the 
genius  of  his  opposers  could  invent — and  some  of  them 


176  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

were  men  of  talents — yet  all  their  abuse  did  not  avail 
them :  he  was  elected  by  a  triumphant  majority. 

He  now  took  part  in  a  scene  that  was  new  to  him. 
The  congress  of  the  United  States  was  generally  made 
up  of  men  of  the  first  talents  in  the  nation.  McArthur 
was  a  new  man,  who,  without  education  or  influential 
friends,  by  the  force  of  his  own  genius,  had  slowly  but 
steadily  wormed  his  way  out  of  the  deepest  obscurity  to 
distinction  among  his  fellow-citizens.  In  his  politics,  he 
was  an  enthusiastic  republican  of  the  JefTersonian  school. 
His  oldest  son  he  named  Thomas  Jefferson.  He  was  an 
admirer  of  Presidents  Madison  and  Monroe.  In  congress, 
he  was  a  firm,  undeviating  supporter  of  what  was  then 
termed  the  American  System.  This  system  of  policy 
was  mainly  introduced  and  supported  in  congress  by  Mr. 
Henry  Clay.  The  object  of  those  politicians,  who  sup- 
ported the  American  System,  appeared  to  be  to  engage 
the  general  government  in  a  system  of  internal  improve- 
ments ;  and  to  carry  out  those  measures,  that  congress 
should  levy  taxes  for  the  purpose  of  making  roads  and 
constructing  canals,  for  the  convenience  of  commercial 
transport  between  the  states  :  and  secondly,  to  levy  heavy 
duties  on  all  articles  of  foreign  importation,  which  could 
be  manufactured  within  our  own  country,  in  order  to 
prevent  foreign  manufacturers  from  coming  in  competi- 
tion with  American  manufacturers.  This  was  called  the 
high  tariff.  Of  this  plan  of  policy  McArthur  was  a  de- 
voted and  efficient  supporter.  Although  he  was  slow  and 
deliberate  in  forming  opinions,  when  formed,  he  never 
yielded  to  opposition. 

Whilst  General  McArthur  remained  a  member  of  con- 
gress, he  had  considerable  influence  in  that  body.  His 
persevering  industry,  his  energetic  mind,  his  sound  judg- 
ment, and  practical  business  habits,  rendered  him  a  very 
efficient  member.  He  would  sometimes  make  short 
pithy  remarks  on  the  business  before  the  house,  but 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M*  ARTHUR.          177 

made  no  attempts  at  those  flourishes  of  eloquence,  which 
tickle  the  fancy  and  please  the  ear.  After  having  served 
two  sessions  in  congress,  he  declined  a  re-election,  being 
determined  to  devote  all  his  efforts  to  arrange  his  domes- 
tie  concerns.  He  left  the  field  of  politics  to  others,  and 
engaged  with  an  unremitted  attention  to  settle  his  land 
business. 

Having  at  all  times  prided  himself  in  the  adroitness 
and  dexterity  with  which  he  could  take  the  advantage  of 
any  defects  in  the  locations  or  surveys  of  other  land 
speculators,  he  was  involved  in  a  labyrinth  of  litigation. 
He  appeared  to  take  as  much  pride  in  overreaching  other 
land  speculators,  as  ever  ambitious  general  didinoutman- 
euvering  his  adversary  on  the  field  of  battle.  Although 
he  has  succeeded  in  amassing  a  large  fortune,  mostly  by 
land  speculation,  yet,  the  evening  of  his  days  is  clouded 
by  turmoil,  vexation,  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  law.  If 
wealth,  generally,  affords  no  more  peace  of  mind  than  it 
has  to  General  McArthur,  it  is  not  worth  the  coveting. 
Although  he  has  been  successful  in  his  land  speculations, 
his  conduct  in  this  line  of  business  is  not  worthy  of  imi- 
tation, but  rather  reprehensible,  and  has  created  him  more 
vexation  and  enemies,  than  all  the  other  acts  of  his  life. 

The  summer  of  1830,  General  McArthur's  friends, 
against  his  inclination,  placed  his  name  in  nomination  as 
a  candidate  for  the  office  of  governor  of  the  state  of  Ohio. 
At  this  time,  General  Jackson  had  come  into  power,  and 
his  partizans  were  well  organized.  It  was  well  known, 
that  General  McArthur  was  a  supporter  of  the  internal 
improvement  system  ;  he  was  also  in  favor  of  what  was 
called  the  high  tariff;  and  what  was  more  odious  to  the 
Jackson  party,  he  was  in  favor  of  rechartering  the  United 
States  bank.  The  Jackson  party  assailed  his  character 
with  all  the  animosity  and  virulence  that  party  strife  en- 
genders. The  affair  of  permitting  the  deserters  to  be 
shot,  was  again  brought  forward  in  a  new,  extended  and 


178  A   SKETCH   OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

frightful  edition.  The  party,  in  their  zeal,  depicted  Gen- 
eral McArthur,  as  a  monster,  whose  delight  was  in  blood : 
they  had  forgotten,  that  their  own  chief  was,  at  least, 
equally,  if  not  more,  obnoxious  to  censure  in  this  respect. 
Perhaps  both  were  actuated  by  a  sense  of  duty  for  the 
good  of  their  country.  McArthur's  land  speculations 
were  depicted  in  the  most  horrid  colors.  From  these 
publications,  it  would  appear,  that  he  had  dispossessed 
of  their  homes  almost  every  widow  and  orphan  within 
his  reach.  So  far  from  this  being  a  true  representation 
of  his  land  law  suits — he  generally  contended  with  none 
but  other  land  speculators  ;  and  this  was  a  war  of  "  Greek 
to  Greek."  All  the  weapons  of  the  party,  though  well 
aimed  and  dexterously  handled,  did  not  avail  them :  he 
was  elected  by  a  considerable  majority. 

His  duty,  as  Governor  of  the  state,  was  discharged 
with  fidelity.  No  party  clamor  was  raised  against  him. 
The  pardoning  power,  intrusted  to  the  Governor  of  the 
state,  is  a  delicate  trust.  Every  criminal  has  friends, 
who  will  use  every  means  to  procure  pardons — by  peti- 
tions, letters,  and  personal  applications  by  mothers,  by 
wives,  by  fathers,  by  sisters  and  brothers.  To  resist 
such  applications,  requires  some  firmness.  Governor 
McArthur  was  applied  to  for  the  pardonW  two  criminals 
in  such  a  courtly  manner,  that  the  petition  itself  will  be 
interesting.  The  petition  is  dated  "  October  25th,  1832," 
and  reads  in  the  following  courtly  words  :  "To  his  ex- 
cellency, Duncan  McArthur,  commander  in  chief  of  the 
state  of  Ohio — Sir,  we  are  sorry  that  we  are  necessita- 
ted to  address  you  at  present,  but  your  executive  acts 
have  been  such  that  compels  us  to  do  so.  You  have 
pardoned  John  Murry  a  most  notorious  villain,  and  has 
left  Lawrence  Lynch  in  prison,  who  is  an  innocent  man 
who  happened  to  be  in  company  with  Murry  when  he 
was  arrested.  To  be  plain  with  you,  you  have  been  in 
the  habit  of  pardoning  those  who  were  most  guilty,  and 


GENERAL    DUNCAN   M'ARTHUR.  l7& 

suffering  those  who  were  innocent  to  remain  in  prison. 
"We  know  you  to  be  a  soldier,  who  has  risked  your  life 
in  defence  of  your  country,  and  some  of  us  was  soldiers 
in  the  war  and  fought  in  the  same  battles,  we  are  sorry  to 
have  recourse  to  harsh  means  therefore  as  you  have  the 
power  you  will  release  Lawrence  Lynch  and  Owen 
McCormack,  who  is  another  innocent  man— if  you  do 
not  we  are  sufficiently  numerous  and  fully  determined 
and  will  bring  fire  and  destruction  on  your  property  first 
and  if  that  fails  we  will  in  the  end  take  your  life — 
Remember  we  are  soldiers  and  sworn  to  do  it  or  die. 
Remember."  It  is  unnecessary  to  say  this  modest  peti- 
tion had  no  effect  on  a  man  of  McArthur's  nerve ;  neither 
did  these  courteous  petitioners  make  an  unmeaning  and 
empty  threat.  On  the  night  of  the  tenth  of  November 
(only  fifteen  days  after  the  date  of  the  above  letter)  about 
nine  o'clock  at  night,  his  large  barn,  being  full  of  grain, 
was  discovered  wrapped  in  flames.  As  the  citizens  of 
Chillicothe  had  not  then  retired  to  rest,  and  the  barn  be- 
ing in  full  view  of  the  town,  the  citizens,  with  praise- 
worthy activity,  rushed  to  the  fire.  As  a  Mr.  John  Harly 
was  running  to  the  fire  on  foot,  he  saw  a  horse  with  a 
bridle  on,  near  the  road  side.  Harly  mounted  the  horse 
and  rode  him  to  the  conflagration.  This  horse  must 
have  belonged  to  the  incendiary  who  put  the  fire  to  the 
barn.  Mr.  Harly  advertised  the  horse  in  several  news- 
papers, but  no  person  ever  appeared  to  claim  him.  Some 
months  after  the  burning  of  the  barn,  an  elegant  saddle 
was  found  in  a  deep  hollow  below  the  barn.  The  horse 
was  exhibited  at  public  meetings  in  several  counties,  but 
no  one  knew  him.  The  incendiary  must  have  come 
from  a  distant  place,  or  the  horse  would  have  led  to  his 
discovery. 

General  McArthur's  term  of  Governor  expired  without 
any  thing  further  occurring  worthy  of  notice.  He  was 
again  a  candidate  for  a  seat  in  the  house  of  representa- 


180  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

lives  of  congress,  and  lost  his  election  by  one  vote. 
Here,  then,  is  closed  the  history  of  his  public  life. 

I  have  omitted  to  notice,  in  its  progressive  date,  a  cir- 
cumstance that  befell  Gen.  McArthur,  which  accident  has 
been  the  ultimate  cause  of  clouding  the  evening  of  his  days 
in  misery.  On  the  6th  day  of  February,  1830,  as  he  was 
passing  in  the  street  of  the  city  of  Columbus,  on  a  side  walk 
with  a  covering  like  a  porch  projecting  twelve  feet  into  the 
street,  the  roof  of  this  projection  being  covered  with  a 
heavy  fall  of  snow,  the  slight  frame-work  gave  way  just 
as  McArthur  came  under  it,  and  crushed  him  on  the 
pavement.  The  roof  was  moved  from  him  as  soon  as 
possible.  In  one  of  his  knees  all  the  joints  were  broken ; 
and  he  was  otherwise  horridly  bruised  in  every  part  of 
the  body — so  much  so,  that  his  life  was  despaired  of  for 
some  time.  He,  at  length,  partially  recovered :  the  broken 
knee  still  remains  crippled,  and  gives  way  as  easy  back- 
wards as  forward.  From  the  severe  crushing  his  body 
received  in  this  melancholy  accident,  his  bodily  powers 
have  been  constantly  on  the  decline.  His  once  powerful 
and  energetic  mind  appears  to  sink  and  give  way  with 
his  bodily  strength.  The  once  athletic  and  ambitious 
Duncan  McArthur,  is  now  neither  an  object  of  envy  to 
his  enemies,  nor  much  attended  to  by  those  who  formerly 
professed  to  be  his  devoted  friends.  Almost  ever  since 
the  accident  happened  him,  he  has  been  confined  to  his 
room,  only  occasionally  taking  a  little  exercise  in  his 
carriage.  Instead  of  being  that  strong,  athletic  man,  that 
exposure  nor  hardship  could  weary,  nor  danger  appal,  he 
is  now  a  helpless  old  man,  that  requires  assistance  to  rise 
or  lie  down.  Such  a  contrast  as  is  exhibited  in  this  man, 
should  humble  the  pride  of  strength  and  ambition. 

Although  it  is  but  a  few  years  since  the  fatal  accident 
took  place,  he  appears  to  be  already  almost  forgotten  by 
all,  but  more  especially  by  the  gay  and  fashionable,  who 
in  the  days  of  health  and  prosperity,  fluttered  around  him, 


GENERAL  DUNCAN  M' ARTHUR.  181 

like  satellites  around  a  brilliant  planet.  He  is  now  almost 
a  stranger,  where,  a  short  time  since,  his  word  was  law. 
Such  are  the  changeful  vicissitudes  in  human  affairs.  It 
is  in  the  time  of  adversity  that  the  value  of  a  real  disin- 
terested friendship  proves  its  worth.  He  had  one  friend 
who  clung  to  him  in  his  afflictions,  and  used  every  means 
in  her  power  to  sooth  his  mind  and  anticipate  his  wants 
— his  wife,  the  partner  of  his  fortune,  stood  by  him  in 
his  time  of  suffering ;  and  diligently  watched  over  his 
couch,  night  and  day,  till  her  frail  frame  gave  way  by 
constant  watching  and  fatigue.  She  sickened,  and  died 
on  the  23d  of  October,  1836,  in  the  fifty -seventh  year  of 
her  age.  She  was  an  exemplary  and  religious  woman, 
well  versed  in  business,  and  whose  prudence  and  care 
over  her  husband's  domestic  affairs,  contributed  largely 
to  his  happiness  and  interest.  No  woman,  in  Chillicothe 
or  its  vicinity,  more  generously  relieved  the  necessities 
of  the  poor.  By  her  wealth  she  was  enabled  to  be  libe- 
ral ;  and  her  strong  and  discriminating  mind  could  clearly 
discover  the  proper  objects  of  charity.  May  her  chil- 
dren imitate  her  moral,  prudent,  and  industrious  example, 
and  prove  themselves  worthy  of  such  a  mother! 

Since  the  death  of  his  wife,  General  McArthur  remains 
with  but  little  change  :  the  lonely  occupant  of  his  room, 
he  is  indeed  "  solitary  and  almost  alone."  His  mind  is 
in  such  a  morbid  state,  that  it  presents  no  picture  of  what 
it  once  was.  Absent  and  indifferent  on  most  subjects, 
it  can  only  be  occasionally  roused  to  reflection  on  his 
own  affairs. 

General  McArthur's  private  character,  in  many  respects, 
was  worthy  of  imitation.  His  energy  and  untiring  in- 
dustry in  whatever  pursuit  he  engaged,  deserves  the 
highest  praise.  Wherever  he  came  across  an  old 
frontier  man  in  distress,  his  purse  was  open  for  his 
relief.  His  hospitality  at  his  own  mansion,  was  bor- 


182  GENERAL    DUNCAN    M?ARTHUR. 

dering  on  extravagance  ;  no  one  left  him  hungry  or 
thirsty.  Notwithstanding  that  he  was  liberal  in  feeding 
the  hungry,  and  clothing  the  naked,  he  was  admitted 
to  be  a  close  and  severe  dealer. 


[Face  183.1 


General  Wayne. 


A    SKETCH    OF    THE   LIFE 


CAPTAIN  WILLIAM  WELLS 


OF  GEN.  WAYNE'S  ARMV,  IN  1794. 


CHAPTER  I. 

IT  is  possible  that  the  author  claims  more  merit  for 
the  achievements  of  the  old  frontier  men,  than  the  men 
of  the  present  day  are  willing  to  admit.  However  that 
may  be,  he  here  presents  to  the  reading  public  a  few 
acts,  which  took  place  on  the  campaign  with  Gen. 
Wayne,  in  1794. 

Gen.  Wayne  had  a  bold,  vigilant,  and  dexterous  en- 
emy to  contend  with.  It  became  indispensable  for  him 
to  use  the  utmost  caution  in  his  movements,  to  guard 
against  surprise.  To  secure  his  army  against  the  pos- 
sibility of  being  ambuscaded,  he  employed  a  number  of 
the  best  woodsmen  the  frontier  afforded,  to  act  as  spies 
or  rangers.  Captain  Ephraim  Kibby,  one  of  the  first 
settlers  at  Columbia,  eight  miles  above  Cincinnati,  who 
had  distinguished  himself  as  a  bold  and  intrepid  soldier, 
in  defending  that  infant  settlement,  commanded  the  prin- 
cipal part  of  the  spies.  The  writer  of  this  article,  and 
his  brother  Thomas,  were  attached  to  Captain  Kibby's 
company  of  rangers.  This  will  account  for  the  author's 
intimate  knowledge  of  the  subject  of  which  he  is  giving 
a  relation.  A  very  effective  division  of  the  spies  was 
commanded  by  Captain  William  Wells. 

183 


184  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Captain  Wells  had  been  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians 
when  quite  a  youth ;  he  grew  to  manhood  with  them, 
and  consequently  was  well  acquainted  with  all  their  wiles 
and  stratagems.  From  causes  not  now  remembered, 
about  eighteen  months  previous  to  the  time  of  which  I 
am  writing,  he  left  the  Indians,  and  returned  to  his  re- 
latives and  friends  in  civilized  life.  Being  raised  by  the 
Indians,  well  acquainted  with  the  country  which  was 
about  to  be  the  theater  of  action,  talking  several  of  their 
languages  fluently,  and  withal  desperately  brave,  such  a 
soldier  was  a  real,  effective  acquisition  to  the  army. 
Captain  Wells  was  the  same  gentleman  named  by  the 
Rev.  O.  M.  Spencer,  in  the  narrative  of  his  capture  by 
the  Indians,  and  release  from  captivity.  It  was  to  Capt. 
Wells  that  Mr.  Spencer  was  primarily  indebted  for  his 
liberty.  (See  Spencer's  Narrative,  page  105.)  I  am 
particular  in  describing  this  corps  of  the  army,  as  they 
performed  more  real  service  than  any  other. 

Attached  to  Captain  Wells'  command  were  the  follow- 
ing men  :  Robert  M'Lelland  (whose  name  has  been 
since  immortalized  by  the  graphic  pen  of  Washington 
Irving,  in  his  "  Astoria"),  was  one  of  the  most  athletic 
and  active  men  on  foot,  that  has  appeared  on  this  globe. 
On  the  grand  parade  at  Fort  Greenville,  where  the  ground 
was  very  little  inclined,  to  show  his  activity,  he  leaped 
over  a  road-wagon  with  the  cover  stretched  over ;  the 
wagon  and  bows  were  eight  and  a  half  feet  high.  Next 
was  Henry  Miller.  He  and  a  younger  brother,  named 
Christopher,  had  been  made  captives  by  the  Indians 
when  young,  and  adopted  into  an  Indian  family.  Henry 
Miller  lived  with  them  till  he  was  about  twenty-four 
years  of  age  ;  and  although  he  had  adopted  all  their 
manners  and  customs,  he  at  that  age  began  to  think  of 
returning  to  his  relatives  among  the  whites.  The  longer 
he  reflected  on  the  subject,  the  stronger  his  resolution 
grew  to  make  an  attempt  to  leave  the  Indians.  He  com- 


I 

CAPTAIN    WILLIAM    WELLS.  185 

municated  his  intention  to  his  brother  Christopher,  and 
used  every  reason  he  was  capable  of,  to  induce  his 
brother  to  accompany  him  in  his  flight.  All  his  argu- 
ments were  ineffectual.  Christopher  was  young  when 
made  captive — he  was  now  a  good  hunter,  an  expert 
woodsman,  and  in  the  full  sense  of  the  word,  a  free  and 
independent  Indian.  Henry  Miller  set  off  alone  through 
the  woods,  and  arrived  safe  among  his  friends  in  Ken- 
tucky. Captain  Wells  was  well  acquainted  with  Miller 
during  his  captivity,  and  knew  that  he  possessed  that 
firm  intrepidity  which  would  render  him  a  valuable  com- 
panion in  time  of  need.  To  these  were  added  a  Mr. 
Hickman,  and  Mr.  Thorp,  who  were  men  of  tried  worth 
in  Indian  warfare. 

Captain  Wells  and  his  four  companions  were  confi- 
dential and  privileged  gentlemen  in  camp,  who  were  only 
called  upon  to  do  duty  upon  very  particular  and  interest- 
ing occasions.  They  were  permitted  a  carte  blanche 
among  the  horses  of  the  dragoons,  and  when  upon  duty 
went  well  mounted  ;  whilst  the  spies  commanded  by 
Captain  Kibby  went  on  foot,  and  were  kept  constantly 
on  the  alert,  scouring  the  country  in  every  direction. 

The  head  quarters  of  the  army  being  at  Fort  Green- 
ville, in  the  month  of  June,  Gen.  Wayne  dispatched 
Captain  Wells  and  his  company,  with  orders  to  bring  in- 
to camp  an  Indian  as  a  prisoner,  in  order  that  he  could 
interrogate  him  as  to  the  future  intentions  of  the  enemy. 
Captain  Wells  proceeded  with  cautious  steps  through  the 
Indian  country.  He  crossed  the  river  St.  Mary,  and 
thence  to  the  river  Auglaize,  without  meeting  any  strag- 
gling party  of  Indians.  In  passing  up  the  Auglaize 
they  discovered  a  smoke :  they  then  dismounted,  tied 
their  horses,  and  proceeded  cautiously  to  reconnoiter  the 
enemy.  They  found  three  Indians  camped  on  a  high, 
open  piece  of  ground,  clear  of  brush,  or  any  underwood. 
As  it  was  open  woods,  they  found  it  would  be  difficult 
14 


186  A   SKETCH   OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

to  approach  the  camp  without  being  discovered.  Whilst 
they  were  reconnoitering,  they  saw  not  very  distant  from 
the  camp,  a  tree  which  had  lately  fallen.  They  returned 
and  went  round  the  camp,  so  as  to  get  the  top  of  the 
fallen  tree  between  them  and  the  Indians.  The  tree-top 
being  full  of  leaves,  would  serve  as  a  shelter  to  screen 
them  from  observation.  They  went  forward  upon  their 
hands  and  knees,  with  the  noiseless  movements  of  the 
cat,  till  they  reached  the  tree-top.  They  were  now 
within  seventy  or  eighty  yards  of  the  camp.  The  In- 
dians were  sitting  or  standing  about  the  fire,  roasting 
their  venison,  laughing  and  making  other  merry  antics, 
little  dreaming  that  death  was  about  stealing  a  march  up- 
on them.  Arrived  at  the  fallen  tree,  their  purpose  of  at- 
tack was  soon  settled  ;  they  determined  to  kill  two  of 
the  enemy,  and  make  the  third  prisoner.  McLelland, 
who  it  will  be  remembered,  was  almost  as  swift  on  foot 
as  a  deer  of  the  forest,  was  to  catch  the  Indian,  whilst  to 
Wells  and  Miller  was  confided  the  duty  of  shooting  the 
other  two.  One  of  them  was  to  shoot  the  one  on  the 
right,  the  other  the  one  on  the  left.  Their  rifles  were  in 
prime  order,  the  muzzles  of  their  guns  were  placed  on 
the  log  of  the  fallen  tree,  the  sights  were  aimed  for  the 
Indians'  hearts — whiz  went  the  balls,  and  both  Indians 
fell.  Before  the  smoke  of  the  burnt  powder  had  risen 
six  feet,  McLelland  was  running  at  full  stretch,  with 
tomahawk  in  hand,  for  the  Indian.  The  Indian  bounded 
off  at  the  top  of  his  speed,  and  made  down  the  river  ; 
but  by  continuing  in  that  direction  he  discovered  that 
McLelland  would  head  him.  He  turned  his  course  and 
made  for  the  river.  The  river  here  had  a  bluff  bank, 
about  twenty  feet  high.  When  he  came  to  the  bank  he 
sprang  [down  into  the  river,  the  bottom  of  which  was  a 
soft  mud,  into  which  he  sunk  to  the  middle.  While  he 
was  endeavoring  to  extricate  himself  out  of  the  mud, 
McLelland  came  to  the  top  of  the  high  bank,  and  with- 


CAPTAIN   WILLIAM   WELLS.  187 

out  hesitation  sprang  upon  him,  as  he  was  wallowing  in 
the  mire.  The  Indian  drew  his  knife — McLelland  raised 
his  tomahawk — told  him  to  throw  down  his  knife,  or  he 
would  kill  him  instantly.  He  threw  down  his  knife, 
and  surrendered  without  any  further  effort  at  resistance. 
By  the  time  the  scuffle  had  ceased  in  the  mire,  Wells 
and  his  companions  came  to  the  bank,  and  discovered 
McLelland  and  the  Indian  quietly  sticking  in  the  mire. 
As  their  prisoner  was  now  secure,  they  did  not  think  it 
prudent  to  take  the  fearful  leap  the  others  had  done. 
They  selected  a  place  where  the  bank  was  less  preci- 
pitous, went  down  and  dragged  the  captive  out  of  the 
mud,  and  tied  him.  He  was  very  sulky,  and  refused  to 
speak  either  Indian  or  English.  Some  of  the  party  went 
back  for  their  horses,  whilst  others  washed  the  mud  and 
paint  from  the  prisoner.  When  washed,  he  turned  out 
to  be  a  white  man,  but  still  refused  to  speak,  or  give  any 
account  of  himself.  The  party  scalped  the  two  Indians 
whom  they  had  shot,  and  then  set  off  with  their  prisoner 
for  head  quarters.  Whilst  on  their  return  to  Fort  Green- 
ville, Henry  Miller  began  to  [admit  the  idea  that  it  was 
possible  their  prisoner  was  his  brother  Christopher, 
whom  he  had  left  with  the  Indians  some  years  previous. 
Under  this  impression  he  rode  alongside  of  him,  and 
called  him  by  his  Indian  name.  At  the  sound  of  his 
name  he  started,  and  stared  round,  and  eagerly  inquired 
how  he  came  to  know  his  name.  The  mystery  was  soon 
explained — their  prisoner  was  indeed  Christopher  Mil- 
ler !  A  mysterious  providence  appeared  to  have  placed 
Christopher  Miller  in  a  situation  in  the  camp,  by  which 
his  life  was  preserved.  Had  he  been  standing  on  the 
right  or  left,  he  would  inevitably  have  been  killed.  But 
that  fate  which  appears  to  have  doomed  the  Indian  race 
to  extinction,  permitted  the  white  man  to  live,  whilst  the 
Indians  were  permitted  to  meet  that  "  fate  they  cannot 
shun." 


188  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

Captain  Wells  arrived  safely  with  their  prisoner  at 
Fort  Greenville.  He  was  placed  in  the  guard  house, 
where  Gen.  Wayne  frequently  interrogated  him  as  to 
what  he  knew  of  the  future  intentions  of  the  Indians. 
Captain  Wells  and  Henry  Miller  were  almost  constantly 
with  Christopher  in  the  guard  house,  urging  him  to  leave 
off  the  thought  of  living  longer  with  the  Indians,  and  to 
join  his  relatives  among  the  whites.  Christopher  for 
some  time  was  reserved  and  sulky,  but  at  length  became 
more  cheerful,  and  agreed,  if  they  would  release  him 
from  confinement,  that  he  would  remain  with  the  whites. 
Captain  Wells  and  Henry  Miller  solicited  Gen.  Wayne 
for  Christopher's  liberty.  Gen.  Wayne  could  scarcely 
deny  such  pleaders  any  request  they  could  make,  and 
without  hesitation  ordered  Christopher  Miller  to  be  set 
at  liberty  ;  remarking,  that  should  he  deceive  them  and 
return  to  the  enemy,  they  would  be  but  one  the  stronger. 
Christopher  was  set  at  liberty,  and  appeared  pleased 
with  his  change  of  situation.  He  was  mounted  on  a  fine 
horse,  and  otherwise  well  equipped  for  war.  He  joined 
the  company  with  Captain  Wells  and  his  brother,  and 
fought  bravely  against  the  Indians  during  the  continuance 
of  the  war.  He  was  true  to  his  word,  and  upon  every 
occasion  proved  himself  an  intrepid  and  daring  soldier. 


CHAPTER  II. 

As  soon  as  Captain  Wells  and  company  had  rested 
themselves  and  recruited  their  horses,  they  were  anxious 
for  another  bout  with  the  red  men.  Time,  without  ac- 
tion, was  irksome  to  such  stirring  spirits.  Early  in  July 
they  left  Greenville  ;  their  company  was  then  strength- 
ened by  the  addition  of  Christopher  Miller ;  their  orders 


CAPTAIN   WILLIAM   WELLS.  189 

were  to  bring  in  prisoners.  They  pushed  through  the 
country,  always  dressed  and  painted  in  Indian  style  ; 
they  passed  on,  crossing  the  river  St.  Mary,  and  then 
through  the  country  near  to  the  river  Auglaize,  where 
they  met  a  single  Indian,  and  called  to  him  to  surrender. 
This  man,  notwithstanding  that  the  whites  were  six 
against  one,  refused  to  surrender.  He  leveled  his  rifle, 
and  as  the  whites  were  approaching  him  on  horseback, 
he  fired,  but  missed  his  mark,  and  then  took  to  his  heels 
to  effect  his  escape.  The  undergrowth  of  brush  was  so 
very  thick  that  he  gained  upon  his  pursuers.  McLelland 
and  Christopher  Miller  dismounted,  and  McLelland  soon 
overhauled  him.  The  Indian,  finding  himself  overtaken 
by  his  pursuers,  turned  round  and  made  a  blow  at  Mc- 
Lelland with  his  rifle,  which  was  parried.  As  McLel- 
land's  intention  was  not  to  kill,  he  kept  him  at  bay  till 
Christopher  Miller  came  up,  when  they  closed  in  upon 
him,  and  made  him  prisoner  without  receiving  any  in- 
jury. They  turned  about  for  head  quarters,  and  arrived 
safely  at  Fort  Greenville.  Their  prisoner  was  reputed 
to  be  a  Potawotamie  chief,  whose  courage  and  prowess 
was  scarcely  equaled.  As  Christopher  Miller  had  per- 
formed his  part  on  this  occasion  to  the  entire  satisfaction 
of  the  brave  spirits  with  whom  he  acted,  he  had,  as  he 
merited,  their  entire  confidence. 

It  is  not  my  intention  to  give  a  detailed  account  of  the 
various  actions  performed  by  the  spies  attached  to  Gen. 
Wayne's  army,  although  it  would  be  a  narrative  most 
interesting  to  western  readers.  I  have  selected  only  a 
few  of  the  acts  performed  by  Captain  Wells,  and  his  en- 
terprising followers,  to  show  what  kind  of  men  they 
were.  History,  in  no  age  of  the  world,  furnishes  so 
many  instances  of  repeated  acts  of  bravery  as  were  per- 
formed by  the  frontier  men  of  western  Pennsylvania, 
western  Virginia,  and  Kentucky ;  yet  these  acts  of  ap- 
parent desperation  were  so  frequently  repeated  by  nura- 


190  A   SKETCH    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

bers,  that  they  were  scarcely  noticed  at  the  time  as  being 
any  other  than  the  common  occurrence  of  the  day. 

I  have  no  doubt,  that  during  General  Wayne's  cam- 
paign, Captain  Wells,  and  the  few  men  he  commanded, 
brought  in  not  less  than  twenty  prisoners,  and  killed 
more  than  an  equal  number.  Desperate  as  they  were  in 
combat,  that  bravery  was  only  a  part  of  their  merit,  is 
demonstrated  by  the  following  circumstance. 

On  one  of  Captain  Wells'  peregrinations  through  the 
Indian  country,  as  he  came  to  the  bank  of  the  river  St. 
Mary,  he  discovered  a  family  of  Indians  coming  up  the 
river  in  a  canoe.  He  dismounted,  and  concealed  his  men 
near  the  bank  of  the  river,  whilst  he  went  himself  to  the 
bank,  in  open  view,  and  called  to  the  Indians  to  come 
over.  As  he  was  dressed  in  Indian  style,  and  spoke  to 
them  in  their  own  language,  the  Indians,  not  expecting 
an  enemy  in  that  part  of  the  country,  without  any  sus- 
picion of  danger  went  across  the  river.  The  moment 
the  canoe  struck  the  shore,  Wells  heard  the  cocks  of  his 
comrades'  rifles  cry,  "  nick,  nick,"  as  they  prepared  to 
shoot  the  Indians  ;  but  who  should  be  in  the  canoe  but 
his  Indian  father  and  mother,  with  their  children !  As 
his  comrades  were  coming  forward  with  their  rifles 
cocked,  ready  to  pour  in  the  deadly  storm  upon  the  de- 
voted Indians,  Wells  called  upon  them  to  hold  their  hands 
and  desist.  He  then  informed  them  who  those  Indians 
were,  and  solemnly  declared,  that  the  man  who  would 
attempt  to  injure  one  of  them,  would  receive  a  ball  in  his 
head.  He  said  to  his  men,  "  that  that  family  had  fed 
him  when  he  was  hungry,  clothed  him  when  he  was 
naked,  and  kindly  nursed  him  when  sick ;  and  in  every 
respect  were  as  kind  and  affectionate  to  him  as  they  were 
to  their  own  children." 

This  short,  pathetic  speech,  found  its  way  to  the  sym- 
pathetic hearts  of  his  leather-hunting-shirt  comrades. 
Although  they  would  have  made  but  a  shabby  appear- 


CAPTAIN    WILLIAM    WELLS.  191 

ance  on  being  introduced  to  a  fashionable  tea-party,  or 
into  a  splendid  ball-room,  amongst  polished  grandees,  or 
into  a  ceremonious  levee,  to  pass  through  unmeaning 
becks,  bows,  and  courtesies — the  present  was  a  scene  of 
nature,  and  gratitude  the  motive ;  they  all,  at  once,  en- 
tered into  their  leader's  feelings.  I  never  knew  a  truly 
brave  man,  who  could  hold  back  the  tear  of  sympathy  at 
the  joy,  grief,  or  sorrow  of  his  fellow  man :  it  is  the 
timid  coward  who  is  cruel  when  he  has  the  advantage. 
Those  'hardy  soldiers  approved  of  the  motives  of  Captain 
Wells'  lenity  to  the  enemy.  They  threw  down  their 
rifles  and  tomahawks,  went  to  the  canoe,  and  shook 
hands  with  the  trembling  Indians  in  the  most  friendly 
manner.  Captain  Wells  assured  them  they  had  nothing 
to  fear  from  him ;  and  after  talking  with  them  to  dispel 
their  fears,  he  said,  "  that  General  Wayne  was  approach- 
ing with  an  overwhelming  force ;  that  the  best  thing  the 
Indians  could  do  was  to  make  peace  ;  that  the  white  men 
did  not  wish  to  continue  the  war.  He  urged  his  Indian 
father  for  the  future  to  keep  out  of  the  reach  of  danger." 
He  then  bade  them  farewell :  they  appeared  grateful  for 
his  clemency.  They  then  pushed  off  their  canoe,  and 
went  down  the  river  as  fast  as  they  could  propel  her. 

Captain  Wells  and  his  comrades,  though  perfect  des- 
peradoes in  fight,  upon  this  occasion  proved  they  largely 
possessed  that  real  gratitude  and  benevolence  of  heart, 
which  does  honor  to  human  kind. 


192  A  SKETCH  OF  THE   LIFE   OF 


CHAPTER  III. 

EARLY  in  the  month  of  August,  when  the  main  army 
had  arrived  at  the  place  subsequently  designated  as  fort 
Defiance,  General  Wayne  wished  to  be  informed  of  the 
intentions  of  the  enemy.  For  this  purpose,  Captain 
Wells  was  again  dispatched  to  bring  in  another  prisoner. 
The  distance  from  fort  Defiance  to  the  British  fort,  at 
the  mouth  of  the  Maumee  river,  was  only  forty-five 
miles,  and  he  would  not  have  to  travel  far  before  he 
would  find  Indians.  As  his  object  was  to  bring  in  a 
prisoner,  it  became  necessary  for  him  to  keep  out  of  the 
way  of  large  parties,  and  endeavor  to  fall  in  with  some 
stragglers,  who  might  be  easily  subdued  and  captured. 

They  went  cautiously  down  the  river  Maumee,  till 
they  came  opposite  the  site  on  which  fort  Meigs  was 
erected  by  General  Harrison,  in  1813.  This  was  two 
miles  above  the  British  fort,  then  called  fort  Campbell. 
On  the  west  bank  of  the  Maumee  was  an  Indian  village. 
Wells  and  his  party  rode  into  the  village,  as  if  they  had 
just  come  from  the  British  fort.  Being  dressed  and 
painted  in  complete  Indian  style,  they  rode  through  the 
village,  occasionally  stopping  and  talking  to  the  Indians 
in  their  own  language.  No  suspicion  of  who  they  were 
was  excited,  the  enemy  believing  them  to  be  Indians 
from  a  distance,  coming  to  take  a  part  in  the  battle  which 
they  all  knew  was  shortly  to  be  fought.  After  they  had 
passed  the  village  some  distance,  they  fell  in  with  an  In- 
dian man  and  woman  on  horseback,  who  were  returning 
to  the  town  from  hunting.  This  man  and  woman  were 
made  captives  without  resistance.  They  then  set  off"  for 
fort  Defiance. 

As  they  were  rapidly  proceeding  up  the  Maumee  river, 
a  little  after  dark,  they  came  near  a  large  encampment  of 


CAPTAIN   WILLIAM  WELLS.  193 

Indians,  who  were  merrily  amusing  themselves  around 
their  camp-fires.  Their  prisoners  were  ordered  to  be 
silent,  under  pain  of  instant  death.  They  went  round 
the  camp  with  their  prisoners,  till  they  got  about  half  a 
mile  above  it,  where  they  halted  to  consult  on  their  future 
operations.  After  consultation,  they  concluded  to  gag 
and  tie  their  prisoners,  and  ride  back  to  the  Indian  camp, 
and  give  them  a  rally,  in  which  each  should  kill  his  In- 
dian. They  deliberately  got  down,  gagged,  and  fastened 
their  prisoners  to  trees,  rode  boldly  into  the  Indian  en- 
campment, and  halted,  with  their  rifles  lying  across  the 
pummels  of  their  saddles.  They  inquired  when  last 
they  had  heard  of  General  Wayne,  and  the  movements 
of  his  army ;  how  soon,  and  where  it  was  expected  the 
battle  would  be  fought.  The  Indians  who  were  standing 
around  Wells  and  his  desperadoes,  were  very  communi- 
cative, answering  all  their  interrogatories  without  sus- 
pecting any  deceit  in  their  visitors.  At  length,  an  Indian, 
who  was  sitting  some  distance  from  them,  said  in  an 
under  tone,  in  another  tongue,  to  some  who  were  near 
him,  that  he  suspected  that  these  strangers  had  some  mis- 
chief in  their  heads.  Wells  overheard  what  he  said,  and 
immediately  gave  the  preconcerted  signal,  and  each  fired 
his  rifle  into  the  body  of  an  Indian,  at  not  more  than  six 
feet  distance.  The  Indian  who  had  suspected  them,  the 
moment  he  made  the  remark,  and  a  number  of  others, 
rose  up  with  their  rifles  in  their  hands,  but  not  before 
Wells  and  his  party  had  each  shot  an  Indian.  As  soon 
as  Wells  and  his  party  fired,  they  put  spurs  to  their 
horses,  laying  with  their  breasts  on  the  horses'  necks,  so 
as  to  lessen  the  mark  for  the  enemy  to  fire  at.  They 
had  not  got  out  of  the  light  of  the  camp-fire,  before  the 
Indians  shot  at  them.  As  McLelland  lay  close  on  his 
horse's  neck,  he  was  shot,  the  ball  passing  under  his 
shoulder-blade,  and  coming  out  at  the  top  of  his  shoulder 
Captain  Wells  was  shot  through  the  arm  on  which  he 


194  A   SKETCH   OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

carried  his  rifle ;  the  arm  was  broken,  and  his  trusty 
rifle  fell.  The  rest  of  the  party  and  their  horses  received 
no  injury. 

What  confidence,  what  self-possession  was  displayed 
by  these  men,  in  this  terrific  encounter!  They  beat 
General  Marion  and  his  sergeants  hollow !  They  had 
come  off  unscathed  in  so  many  desperate  conflicts,  that 
their  souls  were  callous  to  danger.  As  they  had  no 
rivals  in  the  army,  they  aimed  to  outdo  their  former  ex- 
ploits. To  ride  into  the  enemy's  camp,  and  enter  into 
conversation  with  them,  without  betraying  the  least  ap- 
pearance of  trepidation  or  confusion,  proves  how  well 
their  souls  were  steeled.  This  action  of  real  life  even 
rivals  the  fictious,  though  sublime  muse  of  the  Grecian 
poet.  Homer  sends  forth  his  invincible  hero,  protected 
by  the  invulnerable  panoply  of  Jupiter,  to  make  a  night 
attack  upon  the  enemy.  Diomede  makes  the  successful 
assault  upon  sleeping  foes.  Not  so  our  western  heroes  ; 
they  boldly  went  into  the  midst  of  the  enemy,  while 
their  camp-fires  were  burning  bright,  and  openly  com- 
menced the  work  of  death. 

After  having  performed  this  act  of  military  superero- 
gation, they  rode  at  full  speed  to  where  their  captives 
were  confined,  mounted  them  on  horses,  and  set  off  for 
fort  Defiance.  Captain  Wells  and  McLelland  were  se- 
verely wounded ;  and  to  fort  Defiance,  a  distance  of  about 
thirty  miles,  they  had  to  travel,  before  they  could  rest  or 
receive  the  aid  of  a  surgeon.  As  their  march  would  be 
slow  and  painful,  one  of  the  party  was  dispatched  at  full 
speed  to  fort  Defiance,  for  a  guard  and  a  surgeon.  As 
soon  as  Captain  Wells'  messenger  arrived  at  fort  De- 
fiance, with  the  tidings  of  the  wounds  and  perilous  situ- 
ation of  these  heroic  and  faithful  spies,  very  great  sym- 
pathy was  manifested  in  the  minds  of  all.  General 
Wayne's  feeling  for  the  suffering  soldier,  was  at  all  times 
quick  and  sensitive :  we  can  then  imagine  how  intense 


CAPTAIN   WILLIAM   WELLS.  195 

was  his  solicitude,  when  informed  of  the  sufferings  and 
perils  of  his  confidential  and  chosen  band.  Without  a 
moment's  delay,  he  dispatched  a  surgeon,  and  a  company 
of  the  swiftest  dragoons,  to  meet,  assist,  and  guard  these 
brave  fellows  to  head-quarters.  Suffice  to  say,  they  ar- 
rived safely  in  camp,  and  the  wounded  recovered  in  due 
course  of  time. 

As  the  battle  was  fought,  and  a  brilliant  victory  won, 
a  few  days  after  this  affair  took  place,  Captain  Wells  and 
his  daring  comrades,  were  not  engaged  in  any  further 
acts  of  hostility,  till  the  war  with  the  Indians  was  aus- 
piciously concluded  by  a  lasting  treaty  of  peace. 

A  new  and  happy  era  was  about  dawning  on  the  west. 
A  cruel  and  exterminating  war,  of  nearly  fifty  years'  con- 
tinuance, was  closed  by  a  general  peace  with  the  red 
men  of  the  forest.  The  names  and  memories  of  these 
brave  men,  whose  march  was  in  the  front  of  danger, 
should  be  held  in  veneration  by  the  millions  who  now 
repose  in  peace  and  quiet  on  the  territory  they  acquired 
at  the  risk  of  their  lives,  in  a  thousand  battles. 

It  is  very  natural  for  the  reader  to  inquire,  what  be- 
came of  these  men  after  the  war  terminated  ?  What 
became  of  Thorp,  Hickman,  and  the  two  Millers,  I  have 
never  learned ;  but,  if  alive,  they  probably  reside  in 
some  smoky  cabin  in  the  far  and  distant  west,  unknown 
and  unhonored.  The  last  I  heard  of  the  brave,  hardy, 
and  active  McLelland,  he  had  just  returned  to  St.  Louis, 
in  1812,  from  an  expedition  across  the  Rocky  mountains. 
He  had  been  to  the  Pacific  ocean,  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Columbia  river.  Such  a  tour,  through  uncultivated,  un- 
peopled oceans  of  prairie,  and  then  to  labor  through 
the  tempestuous  bursts  of  snow  and  sleet,  which  whirl 
in  almost  continual  storms  around  the  heights  of  the 
frightful  world  of  rocks  which  compose  the  dreary  Rocky 
mountains,  where  winter  eternally  reigns — this  enterprise 
was  equal  to  the  daring  genius  of  the  man. 


196  CAPTAIN    WILLIAM    WELLS. 

The  fate  of  the  brave  and  lamented  Captain  Wells 
was  sealed  during  the  late  war,  on  the  15th  of  August, 
1812,  near  fort  Dearborn,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Chicago 
river,  on  the  bank  of  lake  Michigan,  where  he  was  slain 
in  an  unequal  combat ;  where  sixty-four  whites  were  at- 
tacked by  upwards  of  four  hundred  Indian  warriors. 
Then  fell  as  bold  a  spirit  as  ever  shouldered  a  rifle  or 
wielded  a  tomahawk. 


A  SKETCH   OF  THE    LIFE 


or 


GENERAL  SIMON  KENTON, 

OF   KENTUCKY. 


FOR  the  benefit  and  gratification  of  those  who  may  come 
after  us,  it  is  right  to  preserve,  for  future  inspection,  re- 
cords of  the  actions  of  men,  who  have  been  instruments 
to  prepare  the  way  for  settling  the  Western  Country. 

To  dispossess  the  barbarous  occupants  of  the  almost 
boundless  wilds  of  the  west,  required  men  of  resolute 
minds ;  and  whose  bodily  composition  contained  more 
than  the  usual  quantity  of  lime  and  iron,  to  enable  them 
to  endure  the  fatigue  and  hardships  they  had  to  encounter. 

It  is  a  remarkable  fact,  of  nearly  all  the  old  frontier- 
men,  that  although  their  trade  was  war,  their  hospitality 
was  boundless.  They  relieved  the  wants  of  the  stranger, 
fed  the  hungry,  and  clothed  the  naked.  No  traveller 
was  permitted  to  pay  for  meat,  drink,  or  lodging  at  their 
cabins. 

General  Simon  Kenton  was  born  in  the  month  of 
March,  A.  D.  1 755,  in  the  county  of  Fauquier,  state  of 
Virginia.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland  ;  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Miller,  was  of  Scotch  descent, 
her  ancestors  being  among  the  first  immigrants  to  Vir- 
ginia. His  parents  being  poor,  he  was,  to  the  age  of 
sixteen,  employed  chiefly  in  the  culture  of  corn  and  to- 

197 


198  A   SKETCH    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

bacco.  At  this  period,  our  country  being  governed  by  a 
kingly  aristocracy,  which  lorded  over  the  laboring  classes 
in  all  the  pride  of  a  superior  caste,  the  poor — having  no 
motive  for  exertion — were  not  ashamed  to  be  ignorant. 
Learning  was  then  almost  exclusively  in  possession  of 
the  clergy,  lawyers,  and  commercial  men,  or  the  wealthy 
farmers,  whose  estates  were  entailed.  Common  schools 
were  then  almost  unknown  in  the  southern  states.  As 
the  Kenton  family  were  poor,  Simon  grew  to  manhood 
without  learning  his  A  B  C. 

Notwithstanding  man  is  a  free  agent,  and  his  future 
character  and  usefulness  depend  on  his  own  choice,  yet 
we  see,  on  some  occasions,  uncontrollable  circumstances 
fix  his  destiny  :  an  invisible  influence  appears  to  guide 
his  fate.  In  the  sixteenth  year  of  Kenton's  age,  an  inci- 
dent occurred,  which  gave  a  new  direction  to  his  mind, 
and  apparently  changed  the  destiny  of  his  life. 

The  neighborhood  in  which  he  was  brought  up  was 
sparsely  inhabited,  and  implements  of  husbandry,  not  re- 
quired for  constant  use,  such  as  broad-axes,  whip  and 
crosscut  saws,  were  purchased  and  used  as  common  prop- 
erty. As  was  common,  under  such  circumstances,  social 
intercourse  prevailed,  and  they  were  in  the  constant  habit 
of  assisting  each  other  at  house-raisings,  log-rollings, 
corn-huskings,  &c.  Old  Mr.  Kenton  had  a  neighbor  by 
the  name  of  Veach,  with  whom  he  lived  on  the  most 
friendly  terms.  At  this  time,  one  of  Mr.  Veach's  sons 
married  a  girl  to  whom  Simon  was  much  attached.  The 
truth  was,  although  he  was  only  turned  of  sixteen  years 
of  age,  he  was  deeply  in  love.  There  are  few  but  know 
something  of  the  frenzied  feelings  occasioned  by  disap- 
pointment in  this  passion.  He,  like  most  unfortunate 
lovers,  felt  himself  exquisitely  injured.  Being  of  a  warm 
temperament,  and  in  his  first  love,  his  mind  was  in  a 
tempest.  He  thought  himself  undone,  and,  in  the  heat  of 
his  passion,  unbidden,  went  to  the  wedding,  where  mirth 


GENERAL   SIMON   KENTON.  199 

and  good-humor  prevailed  till  his  intrusion.  As  soon  as 
he  entered  the  room,  he  looked  round  and  saw  the  new- 
married  pair  seated  on  the  side  of  a  bed,  and  without  hesi- 
tation, went  forward  and  obtruded  himself  between  the 
married  couple.  A  brother  of  the  bridegroom  saw  the 
intrusion,  and  inticed  Simon  away  under  the  pretence  of 
wishing  to  treat  him,  and  while  in  the  act  of  drinking, 
William  Veach  struck  him  a  blow  which  laid  him  pros- 
trate on  the  floor — followed  it  with  a  severe  beating,  and 
sent  him  home  with  black  eyes  and  sore  bones.  As  this 
affair  was  looked  upon  as  a  boyish  freak,  it  did  not  in- 
terrupt the  general  harmony  and  good  feeling  of  the  two 
families  ;  but  Simon,  who  lost  his  girl,  and  got  a  severe 
flogging  into  the  bargain,  viewed  the  affair  in  a  different 
light.  He  felt  his  future  prospects  ruined  and  his  char- 
acter disgraced,  and  in  sullen  silence  determined  on 
revenge,  for  which  an  opportunity  soon  offered. 

His  father  sent  him  to  old  Mr.  Veach's  for  a  crosscut 
saw.  Mr.  Veach  had  rived  some  timber  in  boards  about 
one  hundred  and  fifty  yards  from  his  house,  and  Wil- 
liam Veach  was  engaged  in  carrying  them  to  his  father, 
who  was  covering  a  small  outhouse.  After  Simon  had 
procured  the  saw,  he  and  William  walked  together  to  the 
place  where  the  boards  had  been  made.  Here  they  stop- 
ped, and  Simon  laid  down  the  saw,  and  said  to  William, 
"  You  and  your  friends  had  fine  sport  the  other  night, 
in  beating  me  at  the  wedding :  now,  we  are  alone,  and 
can  have  a  fair  fight."  William  replied,  "  that  they  had 
been  raised  boys  together,  and  never  had  a  difference, 
except  the  one  mentioned,  which  was  a  foolish,  drunken 
frolic ;  that  he  wished  to  say  no  more  about  it..,  that  he 
had  no  desire  to  fight,  and  would  prefer  to  live  in  peace 
and  friendship."  But,  as  Simon  would  admit  of  no 
apology,  they  threw  off  their  coats  and  went  to  work. 
Victory  for  some  time  hung  in  a  doubtful  balance.  Simon, 
at  length,  threw  his  antagonist  to  the  ground,  and  as  quick 


200  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE    OF 

as  thought,  drawing  his  queue  of  long  hair  round  a  small 
sapling,  had  him  completely  in  his  power.  There  he 
beat  him  until  his  strength  began  to  fail ;  then,  letting  go 
the  hair,  he  kicked  him  on  the  breast  and  stomach  till 
no  further  resistance  was  offered.  Simon,  having  now 
gratified  his  vindictive  feelings,  desisted  from  further 
abuse.  William  attempted  to  rise,  but  immediately  sunk, 
and  began  to  puke  blood.  As  Simon  had  not  intended 
to  kill  him,  he  now  raised  him  up,  and  spoke  kindly  to 
him,  but  received  no  answer,  and  beheld  him  sink  to  the 
ground,  apparently  lifeless.  After  standing  by  him  for 
some  time,  without  perceiving  any  signs  of  returning 
life,  he  started  for  home,  under  the  most  poignant  and 
awful  sensations.  By  the  time  he  had  traveled  half  way 
home,  he  began  to  reflect,  seriously,  on  the  rash  act  he 
had  committed.  He  knew  that  young  Veach  would  soon 
be  missed,  and  that  his  father  had  seen  them  walk  toge- 
ther; and  consequently,  it  was  impossible  for  him  to 
think  of  concealing  or  denying  the  murder.  The  horror 
of  being  hanged  then  rushed  upon  his  guilty  soul,  and  he 
resolved  upon  immediate  flight.  He  laid  down  his  saw 
on  the  path,  and  without  stopping  to  see  or  consult 
parents  or  friends,  he  fled  to  the  woods,  and  made  for 
the  Allegheny  mountains.  This  was  on  the  6th  of  April, 
A.  D.  1771.  Lying  concealed  by  day,  he  traveled  by 
night.  In  this  way,  he  passed  over  the  mountains,  and 
came  to  a  place  called  Ise's  Ford,  on  Cheat  river,  a 
branch  of  the  Monongahela.  When  he  arrived  at  this 
place,  he  was  nearly  exhausted  with  fatigue  and  famine. 
Here  he  changed  his  name  to  that  of  Simon  Butler. 
While  he  remained  in  this  neighborhood,  his  mind  was 
a  continual  prey  to  bitter  remorse  and  fear ;  fancying 
that  every  one  he  saw  was  in  pursuit  of  him. 

What  heart  could  fail  to  pity  the  situation  of  the  unfor- 
tunate youth,  who,  by  one  rash  act,  was  driven  from  his 
friends  and  home — a  fugitive  from  justice — under  a  ficti- 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  201 

tious  name,  a  solitary  wanderer :  illiterate,  pennyless  and 
friendless.  And  the  act,  too,  which  had  plunged  him 
into  this  forlorn  condition,  seems  to  have  been  entirely 
foreign  from  his  nature.  In  subsequent  life,  he  mani- 
fested a  mild  and  forgiving  disposition,  and  maintained  a 
character  entirely  the  reverse  of  what  his  early  conduct 
seemed  to  prognosticate. 

That  Providence,  who  so  overruled  the  wickedness  of 
Joseph's  brethren,  as  to  make  it  productive  of  blessings 
to  him  and  to  them,  seems  to  have  used  the  circumstance 
above  mentioned,  for  the  purpose  of  forcing  into  active 
service,  one  whose  athletic  frame  and  fortitude,  and  de- 
cision of  character,  were  admirably  adapted  to  the  toils 
and  dangers  to  which  he  was  exposed,  and  which  qual- 
ities were  indispensable  in  preparing  the  way  for  the 
settlement  and  civilization  of  the  almost  boundless  West. 
Well  it  is  for  man,  that  he  can  only  see  the  present.  He 
is  too  apt  to  anticipate  evil ;  and  could  he  penetrate  the 
veil  which  conceals  the  future,  how  often  would  despair 
banish  hope,  and  paralize  his  efforts.  God,  in  mercy  to 
his  creatures,  keeps  the  future  out  of  sight.  If  it  had 
been  possible  for  Kenton,  at  this  time,  to  have  foreseen 
the  thorny  path  through  which  he  was  doomed  to  pass, 
his  soul,  though  large  and  fearless,  would  have  shrunk 
from  the  appalling  prospect,  and  the  western  country 
been  deprived  of  the  prince  of  pioneers. 

I  will  now  return  to  my  narrative.  He  had  been  oc- 
casionally laboring  and  sauntering  about  Cheat  river  for 
some  months,  when  he  fell  in  company  with  William 
Grills,  Jacob  Greathouse,  and  two  men  by  the  name  of 
Mahon,  who  were  preparing  to  descend  the  river  Ohio, 
on  a  hunting  tour.  Having  previously,  by  his  labor,  pro- 
cured a  good  rifle,  he  was  willing  to  go  on  any  expedi- 
tion that  would  take  him  farther  from  home.  He  joined 
this  party,  and  assisted  in  making  a  cnnoe.  This  being 
completed,  they  embarked,  and  went  down  the  stream 
15 


202  SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

till  they  came  to  Fort  Pitt,  (now  the  city  of  Pittsburgh). 
At  this  place  they  met  with  an  Indian  trader,  by  the 
name  of  David  Duncan,  who  informed  the  Mahons,  that 
their  father  (whom  the  Indians  had  taken  captive  some 
time  previous)  was  still  alive,  and  where  and  how  he 
could  be  found,  and  for  what  sum  he  could  be  ransomed. 
The  two  young  Mahons  immediately  left  the  hunting 
party,  and  went  in  search  of  their  father,  to  release  him 
from  captivity.  To  the  mortification  of  Kenton,  the  hunt- 
ing tour  was  abandoned. 

As  there  was  then  a  small  garrison  maintained  at  Fort 
Pitt,  Kenton  turned  in  to  hunt  for  that  garrison.  At  this 
place  he  first  became  acquainted  with  the  notorious  ren- 
egado,  Simon  Girty.  Girty  was  a  man  of  talents,  had 
great  influence  in  the  garrison,  and  with  the  Indians,  and 
showed  Kenton  all  the  kindness  and  attention  that  was 
in  his  power,  and  subsequently  saved  his  life. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year,  he  fell  in  with  John  Strader 
and  George  Yeager,  who  were  going  down  the  Ohio,  on 
a  hunting  tour.  Yeager  had  been  raised  by  the  Indians, 
and  could  talk  several  of  their  languages.  He  had  pass- 
ed a  part  of  his  time  on  the  south  side  of  the  river  Ohio 
in  the  cane  land  in  Kentucky.  With  these  men  our  wan- 
derer agreed  to  proceed  down  the  Ohio,  he  knew  not 
and  did  not  care  whither.  At  that  time  a  small  trading 
establishment  with  the  Indians  was  kept  by  one  John 
Gibson,  at  a  place  called  Log's  Town,  which  was  the 
only  settlement  of  the  whites  below  Pittsburgh.  Here 
they  halted  a  day  or  two.  From  thence  they  proceeded 
down  the  Ohio  to  the  Mingo  town,  which  is  about  sev- 
enty miles  below  Pittsburgh,  and  three  miles  below 
Steubenville.  As  it  was  a  time  of  peace  here,  they  frol- 
icked and  danced  with  the  young  Indians.  From  thence 
they  proceeded  down  the  Ohio  to  a  Delaware  town,  three 
miles  below  the  mouth  of  the  Little  Kanawha.  Here  they 


GENERAL   SIMON   KENTON.  203 

passed  a  few  days  very  agreeably,  fishing,  hunting,  and 
dancing  with  the  Indians. 

As  none  of  these  friendly  Indians  had  been  down  the 
Ohio  to  the  cane  land,  they  could  afford  no  intelligence 
on  the  subject ;  and  Yeager,  when  there,  was  young,  and 
had  gone  either  from  Detroit,  or  past  Vincennes,  and  did 
not  know  at  what  point  he  had  crossed  the  Ohio.  As  the 
principal  object  of  their  expedition  was  to  explore  the 
cane  country,  and  being  ignorant  at  what  point  to  land 
for  this  purpose,  they  descended  the  Ohio  to  near  the 
mouth  of  Kentucky  river,  stopping  occasionally,  without 
finding  any.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  that,  though  there 
was  abundance  of  cane  in  the  country,  it  did  not  grow 
near  the  bank  of  the  river  any  where  above  the  mouth  of 
Kentucky  river.  Being  disappointed  in  the  main  object 
of  their  expedition,  they  commenced  a  retrograde  move- 
ment, and  proceeded  leisurely  up  the  Ohio.  On  their 
return,  they  examined  Licking  river,  Locust,  Bracken, 
Salt  Lick,  and  Kinnikinnick  creek,  and  Tiger  and  the 
Sandy  rivers,  without  finding  any  cane.  By  this  time, 
the  winter  season  had  commenced.  They  engaged  in 
hunting,  until  they  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Kan- 
awha  river,  and  thence  up  that  river  to  the  mouth  of 
Elk  river,  where  they  built  a  camp,  and  remained  for  the 
winter.  During  the  winter,  they  had  good  success  in 
trapping.  Beaver,  otter,  and  other  game  were  plenty.  In 
the  spring  of  1772  they  went  down  the  Kanawha  to 
the  Ohio,  where  they  met  a  French  trader,  to  whom  they 
sold  their  peltry,  and  procured  ammunition,  clothing  and 
other  articles  necessary  for  hunters. 

The  summer  and  fall  of  1772  were  spent  by  him  and 
his  two  companions  in  roaming  and  hunting  along  the 
Ohio,  between  Big  Kanawha  and  Big  Sandy  rivers.  He 
describes  this  as  the  most  happy  season  of  his  life.  They 
were  blessed  with  health,  found  plenty  of  game  and  fish ; 
and  free  from  the  cares  of  the  ambitious  world,  and  the 


204  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

vexations  of  domestic  life,  they  passed  their  time  in  that 
happy  state  of  ease,  indolence,  and  independence,  which 
is  the  glory  of  the  hunter  of  the  forest.  Late  in  the  fall, 
they  returned  to  their  old  camp  on  the  Big  Kanawha, 
and  spent  the  winter  in  hunting  and  trapping. 

About  this  time  the  clouds  of  the  American  revolution 
began  to  appear,  and  many  of  the  Indians  espoused  the 
cause  of  the  mother  country,  and  commenced  their  depre- 
dations upon  the  frontier  settlements.  In  the  month  of 
March,  1773,  as  Kenton  and  his  companions  were  lol- 
ling about  their  camp,  in  the  dusk  of  the  evening,  not 
thinking  of  danger,  a  party  of  Indians  fired  upon  them, 
and  killed  Yeager.  Strader  and  Kenton  fled,  with  only 
their  lives  and  their  shirts ;  and  in  this  naked  and  help- 
less condition,  they  wandered  for  six  days  and  nights, 
without  fire  or  food.  It  will  be  recollected,  that  the 
month  of  March  affords  none  of  the  casual  subsistence  of 
nuts,  berries,  or  pawpaws,  that  may  be  found  in  the  for- 
est at  other  seasons ;  consequently,  they  were  entirely 
without  sustenance.  Add  to  this,  their  barefooted  and 
naked  condition,  exposed  day  and  night,  to  the  bleak 
winds,  and  "  the  peltings  of  the  pitiless  storms,"  compel- 
led to  travel  through  briars,  and  over  rough  stones  and 
frozen  ground,  and  we  have  a  scene  of  sufferings  that 
baffles  description.  Their  legs  and  bodies  became  lace- 
rated and  torn,  and  their  feet  cut,  bruised,  and  inflamed 
to  such  a  degree,  that  they  were  more  than  two  days  in 
traveling  the  last  six  miles.  It  seems  almost  a  miracle, 
that  they  did  not  sink  in  despair,  and  put  an  end  to  their 
miserable  existence.  But  such  is  the  love  of  life  implant- 
ed in  our  nature,  that  we  cling  to  it  under  the  most 
gloomy  and  appalling  circumstances. 

"  Hope,  like  the  glimmering  taper's  light, 

Adorns  and  cheers  the  way ; 
And  still,  as  darker  grows  the  night, 

Emits  a  brighter  ray." 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  205 

Protected  by  the  guardian  care  of  a  merciful  Provi- 
dence, and  still  hoping  for  relief,  they  reached,  on  the 
sixth  day  a  point  on  the  Ohio  river,  within  six  miles  of 
the  mouth  of  the  Kanawha,  where,  to  their  great  joy, 
they  met  with  Joel  Rease,  Jacob  Greathouse,  William 
Grills,  and  the  two  Mahans,  who  were  of  the  party,  it 
will  be  recollected,  with  which  Kenton  first  united  on 
Cheat  river.  They  had  returned  from  searching  for  their 
father,  and  were  now  descending  the  Ohio,  with  a  view 
of  exploring  the  country  bordering  upon  it.  When  they 
came  in  view  of  the  camp  of  these  men,  Strader  was  so 
exhausted,  that  it  seemed  impossible  for  him  to  travel  an- 
other mile,  and  Kenton  was  not  in  much  better  condi- 
tion. Friendship  and  hospitality  were,  at  that  time,  uni- 
versal among  western  adventurers :  consequently,  Kenton 
and  his  companion  were  received  with  much  kindness, 
and  had  their  wants  supplied,  and  their  sufferings  allevi- 
ated as  far  as  circumstances  would  admit. 

Under  this  treatment,  their  strength  returned,  and  their 
spirits  revived,  and  uniting  with  the  party  upon  which 
they  had  so  fortunately  fallen,  they  began  to  think  of 
new  adventures.  After  deliberating  some  time,  it  was 
concluded  to  return  up  the  Ohio,  till  Kenton  and  Strader 
should  meet  with  some  opportunity  of  supplying  them- 
selves with  arms,  to  enable  them  the  better  to  meet  the 
danger  with  which  they  were  threatened  by  the  hostile 
Indians.  The  whole  party  then  ascended  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Little  Kanawha,  where  they  found  a  Dr.  Briscoe, 
who  was  attempting  to  make  a  settlement  at  that  place. 
The  doctor  was  a  man  of  wealth,  and  had  a  number  of 
slaves  and  some  white  persons  with  him.  While  the  rest 
of  his  party  proceeded  higher  up  the  river,  Kenton  bought 
a  rifle,  and  hired  himself  as  a  hunter  for  Briscoe,  till  he 
should  pay  for  it.  About  this  time,  settlements  were 
commenced  on  the  Ohio,  at  Wheeling,  Grave  creek,  and 
at  the  head  of  the  Long  Reach. 


208  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

By  the  time  Kenton  had  paid  for  his  rifle,  and  procur- 
ed a  few  other  necessary  articles,  Michael  Tyger,  and 
some  others,  from  Virginia,  came  down  the  river,  on  their 
way  to  the  country  below.  With  them  Kenton  united, 
and  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  Scioto,  where  they  halted, 
to  wait  the  arrival  of  Captain  Bullit,  who  had  promised 
to  join  them  at  that  place.  After  waiting  some  time,  and 
seeing  nothing  of  Bullit,  who  had,  probably,  passed  them 
in  the  night,  or  in  a  thick  fog,  they  left  the  Scioto,  and 
returned  up  the  river,  surveying,  and  making  tomahawk 
improvements,  as  far  as  the  mouth  of  Big  Sandy.  At 
Big  Sandy  they  were  overtaken  by  some  men,  who  in- 
formed them  that  Bullit  had  gone  down,  and  was  lying 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Miami,  at  a  place  they  called 
Bullitsburgh ;  that  they  had  gone  out  with  him,  and  were 
then  on  their  return.  Tyger  and  his  party  immediately 
turned,  and  proceeded  to  the  place  designated,  but  found 
Bullit's  camp  vacated,  and  could  gain  no  intelligence  con- 
cerning him.  Concluding  that  Bullit  and  his  party  had 
been  killed  or  taken  by  the  Indians,  and  apprehending  a 
similar  fate  to  await  themselves,  they  became  alarmed, 
and  commenced  an  immediate  retreat.  Halting  opposite 
the  Three  Islands,  they  called  a  council,  whose  deliber- 
ations pronounced  it  hazardous  to  attempt  a  return  by 
water.  Hence,  they  destroyed  their  canoes,  and  with 
Kenton  as  a  pilot,  took  up  the  line  of  march  through  the 
wilderness,  for  the  settlements  on  Green  Briar,  where 
they  arrived  in  safety,  after  a  fatiguing  journey,  over 
mountains,  across  rivers,  and  through  thickets,  where  the 
foot  of  civilized  man  had  never  before  trod.  Thus,  was 
the  first  trip  from  Kentucky  to  Virginia,  by  land,  per- 
formed under  the  guidance  of  our  young  adventurer. 

At  Green  Briar,  Kenton  left  the  party,  and  again  di- 
rected his  steps  towards  the  Monongahela  country,  where 
he  met  William  Grills  and  Jacob  Greathouse,  two  of  his 
former  companions,  who  were  subsequently  joined  by 


GENERAL   SIMON    KENTON.  207 

Samuel  Cartwright  and  Joseph  Lock.  Casting  in  his  lot 
with  these,  Kenton  prepared  once  more  to  descend  the 
Ohio,  and  winter  in  the  wilderness.  Having  provided 
themselves  with  the  necessary  articles  for  the  excursion, 
the  party  embarked  and  descended  to  the  mouth  of  Big 
Sandy,  where  they  continued  to  hunt  and  trap  till  the 
next  spring.  This  spring,  1774,  an  Indian  war  appear- 
ed inevitable.  The  Indians  had  robbed  some,  and  killed 
others,  and  continued  to  manifest  so  much  insolence,  that 
the  hunters  and  traders  took  the  alarm,  and  retreated  to 
Fort  Pitt.  Kenton's  party  sold  the  proceeds  of  their 
winter's  hunt,  to  a  French  trader,  and  following  the  ex- 
ample of  others,  ascended  the  Ohio.  All  the  settlements 
which  had  commenced  the  previous  year,  were  now 
evacuated.  Some  of  the  adventurers  took  shelter  at  a 
place  called  Thomas's  Fort,  at  the  mouth  of  Ten-mile 
creek ;  others,  at  Fort  Pitt ;  so  that  no  settlement  remain- 
ed on  the  Ohio,  below  the  latter  place. 

Lord  Dunmore,  Governor  of  Virginia,  early  this  spring, 
raised  an  army,  to  proceed  to  the  Indian  country,  and 
chastise  the  aggressors.  Kenton  entered  the  army,  and 
was  employed  as  a  spy,  to  go  in  front  and  save  the  troops 
from  the  snares  and  ambuscades  of  the  enemy ;  a  service 
which  requires  steady  nerve,  and  cool,  deliberate  cou- 
rage. For  this  service  Kenton  was  well  qualified,  and 
acquitted  himself  with  credit.  The  army  moved  through 
the  wilderness,  crossed  the  Ohio  at  the  mouth  of  Hock- 
hocking,  and  cautiously  proceeded  to  the  Pickaway  towns, 
on  the  Scioto  river.  On  approaching  these  towns,  they 
were  met  by  a  flag  from  the  Indians,  who  sued  for  peace. 
A  treaty  for  the  restoration  of  peace  was  entered  into, 
the  troops  returned,  and  were  disbanded,  and  Kenton, 
with  a  detachment  of  the  army,  proceeded  to  Fort  Pitt, 
which  was  then  under  the  command  of  Major  Conley. 
But  the  army  had  scarcely  returned,  before  the  Indians 
began  again  to  harass  the  frontiers,  and  hence  another 


208  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

expedition  was  determined  upon.  The  Virginia  troops, 
commanded  by  Colonel  Lewis,  were  to  come  down  the 
Big  Kanawha  to  its  mouth,  and  there  to  remain  till  they 
were  reinforced.  At  the  time  Colonel  Lewis  was  ex- 
pected at  that  place,  Major  Conley  sent  Mr.  Kenton  and 
two  others  with  an  express  to  him.  Arriving  at  the 
mouth  of  Kanawha,  and  not  finding  Colonel  Lewis,  they 
concealed  their  despatch  in  a  hollow  tree,  and  commen- 
ced amusing  themselves  by  strolling  about  this  delightful 
point.  Here  they  were  surprised  and  fired  upon  by  a 
party  of  Indians,  which  caused  their  separation.  His 
comrades  got  together  and  returned  to  Fort  Pitt,  while 
Kenton,  alone,  pushed  his  way  to  Louder's  fort,  on  the 
west  fork  of  the  Monongahela.  Captain  Louder,  not  be- 
lieving the  account  Kenton  gave  of  himself,  had  him  ar- 
rested on  the  suspicion  of  his  being  a  spy  from  the  Indians, 
and  confined  him  till  he  should  hear  from  Major  Conley, 
to  whom  he  sent  an  express.  When  the  messenger  re- 
turned, Kenton,  of  course,  was  set  at  liberty,  who  imme- 
diately returned  to  Fort  Pitt,  received  pay  for  his  ser- 
vices, and  was  discharged  from  the  army. 

Being  now  out  of  employment,  and  the  proper  season 
for  hunting  having  come,  he,  in  company  with  a  young 
man  by  the  name  of  Thomas  Williams,  prepared  a 
canoe,  and,  armed  and  equipped  for  the  winter,  they  de- 
scended the  Ohio  to  the  mouth  of  Big  Sandy,  and  thence 
up  that  river  some  distance,  where  they  formed  their 
camp.  Here  they  remained  during  the  winter,  and  had 
good  success  in  hunting.  Leaving  this  place  early  in  the 
following  spring,  1775,  and  proceeding  down  the  Ohio, 
they  met  a  French  trader,  who  purchased  their  skins  and 
furnished  them  with  such  things  as  they  needed,  to  enable 
them  to  prosecute  their  search  for  the  cane  country. — 
Passing  down  the  river,  they  happened  to  land  for  the 
night,  at  the  mouth  of  a  small  creek,  near  the  place  after- 
wards known  by  the  name  of  Limestone.  The  next 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  209 

morning,  Kenton  shouldered  his  rifle,  and  went  back  into 
the  hills  to  look  for  game.  After  traveling  two  or  three 
miles,  to  his  great  joy,  he  found  abundance  of  cane  grow- 
ing upon  the  richest  land  he  had  ever  seen.  With  this 
intelligence,  he  returned  to  his  companion ;  when  they 
sunk  their  canoe,  gathered  up  their  little  property,  and 
proceeded  out  into  the  cane  lands.  Finding  a  spring  of 
good  water,  they  made  themselves  a  comfortable  camp, 
and  with  their  tomahawks  commenced  clearing  a  small 
piece  of  ground.  Their  clearing  was  finished  some  time 
in  May,  and  from  the  remains  of  some  corn  which  they 
had  got  from  the  French  trader,  for  the  purpose  of  parch- 
ing, they  obtained  seed,  and  planted,  perhaps,  the  first 
corn  that  was  ever  planted  in  that  country  on  the  north 
side  of  the  Kentucky  river.  Here,  tending  their  corn 
with  their  tomahawks,  they  remained  the  undisputed 
masters  of  all  they  could  see,  and  enjoying  as  much  hap- 
piness as  circumstances  would  admit  of,  till  they  had  the 
pleasure  of  eating  roasting  ears,  and  of  seeing  their  corn 
come  to  perfection.  This  place,  which  was  called  Ken- 
ton's  station,  was  about  one  mile  from  where  the  town 
of  Washington,  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  now  stands. 
WThen  autumn  came,  and  the  leaves  began  to  fall,  Ken- 
ton  concluded  to  take  a  ramble  to  the  south,  and  see  the 
extent  of  his  rich  domain.  Leaving  the  camp  in  the  care 
of  Williams,  he  took  a  southern  direction,  and  after  trav- 
eling ten  or  twelve  miles,  came  across  some  large  buf- 
faloe  roads,  and  pursuing  one  of  them,  was  brought,  in  a 
few  hours,  to  a  salt  lick,  on  Licking  river — afterward, 
from  the  color  of  the  water,  called  the  Bluelick.  This  place, 
now  known  by  the  name  of  the  Lower  Bluelick,  is  in 
sight  of  where  the  Lexington  and  Maysville  turnpike 
crosses  Licking.  Here,  where  for  ages  the  wild  beasts 
of  the  forest  had  been  in  the  habit  of  resorting,  Kenton 
killed  a  buflaloe,  and  taking  a  piece  of  it  to  prepare  for 
his  supper,  encamped  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  spent 


210  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

the  night,  or  so  much  of  it  as  was  redeemed  from  sleep, 
in  a  train  of  the  most  pleasing  reflections  and  anticipa- 
tions. The  land  appeared  to  be  a  paradise.  Abundance 
of  salt  was  now  added  to  an  unparalleled  fertility  of  soil, 
in  a  country  abounding  with  every  variety  of  game.  The 
hunter  could  ask  for  no  more — his  every  wish  appeared 
to  be  realized. 

In  the  morning,  he  was  so  occupied  in  contemplating 
the  visions  of  bliss  that  in  future  prospect  danced  before  his 
imagination,  that  it  was  mid-day  before  he  left  his  camp, 
and  on  approaching  the  lick,  he  was  much  surprised  to 
find  a  white  man  standing  by  it.  Knowing  that  many 
white  men  lived  with  the  Indians,  and  were  no  less  sav- 
age than  they,  he  at  first  hesitated,  but  finally  marched 
up  to  him,  prepared  to  meet  a  friend  or  to  encounter  an 
enemy.  On  saluting  the  stranger,  he  found  that  he  had 
nothing  to  fear,  and  learned,  for  the  first  time,  that  he 
and  Williams  were  not  the  only  inhabitants  of  Kentucky. 
This  man's  name  was  Michael  Stoner ;  he  had  come  out 
with  Daniel  Boon  the  year  before;  had  left  Boon's 
station  to  explore  and  examine  the  country,  and  fallng 
into  a  buffaloe  road,  had  followed  it  to  the  lick.  Stoner 
informed  him,  that  there  were  several  settlements  com- 
menced that  season  near  the  Kentucky  river,  and  advised 
him  to  leave  his  present  camp,  and  join  with  one  of  them. 
As  Kenton  relished  this  advice,  Stoner  accompanied  him 
to  his  camp,  where  they  tarried  one  night ;  then  gathered 
up  their  little  property,  and  bidding  adieu  to  their  corn 
patch,  Kenton  and  Williams  took  up  "the  line  of  march, 
with  Stoner,  for  the  south. 

The  settlements  referred  to  above,  are  the  following : 
The  first  in  order  of  time,  was  that  of  Daniel  Boon, 
now  known  by  the  name  of  Boonsborough,  on  the  Ken- 
tucky river ;  which  was  followed  by  the  station  of  Cap- 
tain Harrod,4  now  Harrodsburgh,  on  th«  south  side  of 
Kentucky  river,  and  ten  miles  from  it ;  and  on  the  north 


[Face  211.] 


Boon  the  Hunter. 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  211 

side  were  M'Clelland's  settlement,  where  Georgetown 
now  stands ;  Huston's,  on  the  present  site  of  Paris,  and 
Kingston's,  afterwards  called  Ruddle's  station.  The  last 
two  were  situated  within  seven  miles  of  each  other,  in 
the  bounds  of  the  present  county  of  Bourbon.  The  in- 
habitants of  these  embryo  settlements  were  principally 
from  North  Carolina,  and  had  been  led  to  the  country  by 
Colonel  Boon. 

After  visiting  and  examining  all  the  settlements,  Ken- 
ton  united  with  Kingston's  party,  where  he  spent  the  win- 
er,  about  forty  miles  distant  from  his  late  residence  and 
^orn-patch.  This  year,  and  throughout  the  winter,  the 
Indians  remained  quiet;  but  early  in  the  spring  of  1776, 
i,he  scene  was  changed.  The  American  revolution  was 
when  in  full  progress,  and  the  Indians,  stimulated  by  the 
British,  seemed  resolved  to  break  up  the  infant  settle- 
ments of  Kentucky.  Consequently  every  station  was 
attacked,  and  few,  if  any,  escaped  without  the  loss  of 
some  of  their  men.  The  survivors  were  alarmed,  and  re- 
solved to  seek  security  by  uniting  their  forces.  Huston's 
station  being  more  exposed  than  the  others,  was  the  first 
to  break  up.  They  took  shelter  with  Captain  M'Clel- 
land  ;  and-  numbers  from  Kingston,  follSwing  their  exam- 
ple, it  was  reduced  to  about  ten  men,  among  whom  was 
Kenton — the  first  to  advance,  and  the  last  to  retreat.  But 
the  Indians  still  continuing  to  harass  them,  by  killing 
their  cattle  and  stealing  their  horses,  they  also  concluded 
to  abandon  their  fort,  and  fly  to  M'Clelland's. 

Kentucky,  lying  within  the  chartered  limits  of  Vir- 
ginia, her  settlements  about  this  time  attracted  the  atten- 
tion of  that  state,  and  Major  (afterwards  General)  George 
Clark,  and  a  lawyer  by  the  name  of  Jones,  were  sent 
from  Wheeling  with  five  hundred  pounds  of  powder  and 
lead  in  proportion.  They  concealed  the  ammunition  on 
the  lower  of  the  Three  Islands,  and  came  through  the 
woods  to  M'Clelland's  fort.  As  ammunition  was  grow- 


212  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

ing  scarce,  the  intelligence  of  these  timely  supplies  com- 
municated much  joy  to  the  inhabitants,  and  tended  to  re- 
give  their  drooping  spirits.  Concluding  they  could  not 
spare  from  the  fort  as  many  men  as  would  be  necessary 
to  insure  a  safe  conveyance  of  the  ammunition,  Maj.  Clark 
and  Kenton  set  off  for  Harrod's  fort  to  procure  assistance. 
But  so  soon  as  they  were  gone,  Mr.  Jones  imprudently 
prevailed  on  ten  men  to  go  with  him  to  the  place  where 
the  ammunition  had  been  left.  This  was  a  rash  step,  and 
severely  did  they  pay  for  it.  On  the  way  they  were  met 
by  a  body  of  Indians,  under  the  command  of  a  celebrated 
chief  called  Pluggy ;  a  battle  ensued,  and  the  whites  were 
defeated.  Jones  and  William  Gradon  were  killed,  and 
Joseph  Rodgers  and  Josiah  Dickson  taken  prisoners. 
This  happened  on  christmas  day,  1776.  When  Clark 
and  Kenton  returned,  they  had  the  mortification  to  meet 
the  remnant  of  their  defeated  friends.  And  though  they 
were  much  in  need  of  the  ammunition,  this  unfortunate 
circumstance  frustrated  for  the  present  the  intended  expe- 
dition, and  the  party  from  Harrod's  fort  immediately  re- 
turned. 

On  the  morning  of  the  first  day  of  the  year,  1777, 
Pluggy  with  a  few  of  his  party  came  in  sight  of  the  fort. 
McClelland  and  several  of  his  men  rushed  forth  to  give 
them  battle,  but  were  defeated.  Capt.  McClelland  and 
two  others  were  slain,  and  four  wounded.  After  this  the 
Indians  directed  their  march  homeward ;  and  Kenton  and 
Bates  Collier  cautiously  pursued  their  trail  to  the  place 
where  they  had  crossed  the  Ohio,  near  the  present  city 
of  Maysville  ;  when  finding  that  the  Indians  had  left  the 
country,  they  went  up  to  the  place  where  the  ammuni- 
tion was  deposited,  found  it  safe,  and  then  returned  to  the 
fort.  About  thirty  men  were  then  raised,  who  proceeded 
to  the  Three  Islands,  and  brought  off  the  ammunition 
without  molestation. 

When  Kenton  and  his  party  returned  to  the  fort  with 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  213 

the  ammunition,  they  found  every  thing  in  gloom.  Panic 
struck,  the  occupants  had  resolved  to  abandon  the  settle- 
ment ;  and  soon  the  whole  party,  men,  women,  and  chil- 
dren, moved  in  a  body  to  Harrod's  fort.  This  removal 
is  represented  by  Kenton  as  the  most  affecting  sight 
he  ever  witnessed.  The  hardy  hunters  were  evidently 
alarmed ;  despair  sat  brooding  on  the  countenance  of 
every  female  ;  and  the  children  having  caught  the  infec- 
tion, vented  their  terrors  in  wailing  cries,  which  alto- 
gether formed  a  scene  that  might  have  excited  the  sym- 
pathy of  even  a  savage  heart.  All  the  settlements  in 
Kentucky,  except  Boon's  and  Harrod's,  were  gi'ven  up  ; 
and  at  this  critical  period  the  first  legal  officers  were  ap- 
pointed in  the  country.  A  commission  arrived  from  Vir- 
ginia, giving  the  command  to  Maj.  George  Clark,  with 
authority  to  appoint  his  inferior  officers.  Consequently, 
Boon  and  Harrod,  and  soon  afterwards  Logan,  were  rais- 
ed to  the  office  of  captain. 

By  the  time  the  spring  arrived,  the  settlers  were  so 
much  in  need  of  clothing,  that  Kenton,  John  Haggin,  and 
four  others,  started  for  Kingston's,  to  break-out  some 
flax  and  hemp  which  had  been  left  at  that  place.  On  ap- 
proaching the  station,  Haggin,  riding  some  distance  be- 
fore the  rest,  discovered  a  party  of  Indians,  encamped 
around  the  block-house.  With  this  information,  he  re- 
turned to  his  companions.  Kenton  proposed  a  retreat, 
but  Haggin  rejected  the  proposal  with  indignation,  and 
in  an  insolent  tone  pronounced  that  no  one  but  a  coward 
would  think  of  retreating  without  giving  the  Indians  a 
fire.  To  this  Kenton  replied,  that  it  was  not  a  time  for 
quarreling,  that  he  was  ready  to  prove  by  his  works,  a 
willingness  to  go  as  far,  and  fire  as  free  as  any  man. 
The  whole  party,  except  a  young  Dutchman  who  had 
sat  on  his  horse  listening  to  the  dispute,  then  dismounted 
and  tied  their  horses.  But  it  seems  that  the  Indians  had 
observed  Haggin  when  he  approached  the  fort,  and  cau- 


214  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

tiously  pursued  him  as  he  retreated  ;  for  scarcely  had  the 
party  dismounted,  when  a  column  of  Indians  appeared  in 
front,  and  another  party,  which  had  nearly  surrounded 
them,  commenced  a  distant  and  scattering  fire  through 
the  brush.  As  further  delay  would  have  brought  certain 
destruction,  they  instantly  fled  on  foot,  and  thus  escaped 
with  their  lives,  but  lost  all  their  horses  except  the  one 
occupied  by  the  Dutchman.  This  was  early  in  March, 
1777. 

When  this  party  left  Harrod's  fort,  Maj.  Clark  had  di- 
rected Kenton  so  soon  as  the  flax  and  hemp  should  be 
dressed,  to  take  two  men  and  pursue  a  circuitous  route 
through  the  country  to  Boon's  station.  But  on  com- 
mencing their  retreat  from  Kingston,  every  appearance 
induced  the  conclusion  that  a  large  body  of  Indians  were 
on  the  march  to  attack  Harrod's  fort ;  Kenton  therefore 
determined  to  go  to  Boon's  alone,  while  the  others  should 
return  and  apprise  Capt.  Harrod  of  his  danger,  and  aid 
in  defending  that  place,  should  it  be  assaulted.  Ken- 
ton  arrived  undiscovered  by  the  enemy,  in  the  neighbor- 
hood of  Boonsborough ;  but  knowing  that  the  Indians 
were  apt  to  lie  concealed  around  the  forts,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  destroying  those  who  might  attempt  to  pass  to  or 
from  them,  he  concluded  not  to  approach  till  after  dark. 
After  lying  by  for  two  or  three  hours,  he  grew  impatient, 
left  his  retreat,  and  approached  the  fort,  and  the  first 
thing  he  saw  was  the  men  of  the  fort  carrying  in  the 
bodies  of  two  men  whom  the  Indians  had  shot  an  hour 
or  two  before.  These  men  had  been  killed  on  the  very 
route  that  Kenton  came,  and  hence  it  is  certain  that  the 
pause  he  had  made,  had  saved  his  life. 

The  rest  of  the  party,  upon  their  retreat  from  Hink- 
ston,  made  a  rapid  march  for  Harrod's  fort,  and  arrived 
in  time  to  warn  the  garrison  and  prepare  it  for  the  pre- 
meditated attack.  Indeed,  it  appears  that  the  Indians 
knowing  they  could  not  take  the  place  by  surprise,  now 


GENERAL    SIMON    KEXTON.  215 

their  plans  were  discovered,  moved  so  leisurely  as  to  give 
Maj.  Clark  sufficient  time  to  prepare  for  defence.  Find- 
ing in  their  march  a  few  whites  at  a  place  called  Shaw- 
nee  Spring,  the  Indians  fired  upon  them,  killed  some, 
and  took  one  prisoner ;  but  the  rest,  by  flying  to  the  fort, 
gave  additional  evidence  of  the  approach  of  the  enemy ; 
so  that  when  the  garrison  on  the  next  morning  was  at- 
tacked, it  was  fully  prepared  for  a  vigorous  and  obstinate 
defence.  The  siege  continued  several  days  and  nights  ; 
and  though  the  Indians  succeeded  in  reducing  the  num- 
ber of  their  opponents,  they  also  lost  many  of  their  own 
men,  and  at  last  withdrew  in  despair. 

Previous  to  this  attack  Benjamin  Logan  had  been  pre- 
paring to  make  a  settlement  near  the  place  where  Lin- 
coln court-house  now  stands,  and  soon  as  the  enemy  re- 
treated, he,  with  a  number  of  others,  left  Harrod's  and 
proceeded  to  the  new  settlement,  which  formed  the  third 
post  at  that  time  occupied  in  the  country.  These  settle- 
ments, notwithstanding  the  dangers  to  which  they  were 
continually  exposed,  were  constantly  gaining  strength  by 
emigrants,  through  the  wilderness,  from  Virginia  and 
North  Carolina. 

But  the  Indians  still  continuing  troublesome,  each  of 
the  stations  agreed  to  furnish  two  spies,  to  be  selected  by 
their  captains,  and  Maj.  Clark  pledged  the  faith  of  Vir- 
ginia for  their  payment.  This  arrangement  was  carried 
into  effect  by  the  appointment  of  Simon  Kenton  and 
Thomas  Brooks,  on  the  part  of  Boon ;  Samuel  Moore 
and  Bates  Collier,  by  Harrod ;  and  John  Conrad  and 
John  Martin,  by  Logan.  Thus  selected,  and  having 
their  routes  and  mode  of  operation  left  to  their  own  dis- 
cretion, these  choice  spirits  were  constantly  on  the  alert, 
and  by  a  faithful  discharge  of  their  arduous  duties  proved 
themselves  worthy  of  the  confidence  reposed  in  them. 
During  the  summer  their  constant  weekly  practice  was 
for  two  of  them  to  visit  the  deserted  stations  of  McClel- 
16 


216  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

land,  Hinkston,  and  Huston,  from  thence  by  the  Upper 
and  Lower  Bluelicks,  and  to  the  Three  Islands  on  the 
Ohio,  thence  down  to  the  mouth  of  Licking,  and  then 
back  to  the  stations.  By  this  vigilance  they  were  always 
able,  except  in  one  instance,  to  give  the  forts  timely  no- 
tice of  the  approach  of  the  enemy.  During  the  summer 
three  different  attacks  were  made  upon  Boonsborough. 
The  first  came  upon  them  unexpected,  and  in  the  follow- 
ing manner:  Early  one  morning  Kenton  and  two  others 
having  loaded  their  guns  for  a  hunt,  were  standing  at  the 
gate,  when  two  men  who  had  gone  into  a  field  in  sight 
of  the  fort  to  drive  in  some  horses,  were  fired  upon  by 
four  or  five  Indians.  Not  being  wounded,  they  fled,  and 
were  pursued  to  within  sixty  or  seventy  yards  of  the 
fort,  where  an  Indian  overtook  one  of  them,  killed  him 
with  his  tomahawk,  and  commenced  the  operation  of 
taking  off  his  scalp.  But  by  this  time  Kenton  was  within 
a  few  yards  of  the  spot,  and  shot  the  Indian  down  ;  and 
then  in  company  with  his  hunting  companions,  gave 
chase  to  the  others,  and  pursued  them  into  the  edge  of 
the  field.  In  the  meantime  Boon  having  heard  the  re- 
port of  guns,  had  taken  ten  men  and  come  forth  to  their 
assistance.  As  these  were  advancing  from  the  fort,  Ken- 
ton  casting  his  eye  to  the  left,  discovered  an  Indian  about 
to  fire  upon  them  ;  but  Kenton  shot  first,  and  the  savage 
sunk  to  rise  no  more.  By  the  time  his  gun  was  reloaded, 
and  Boon  had  come  up,  they  heard  a  rush  of  footsteps 
upon  their  left,  and  discovered  that  a  number  of  Indians 
had  got  between  them  and  the  gate.  Their  situation  was 
now  perilous  in  the  extreme.  But  desperate  diseases  re- 
quire desperate  remedies  :  Boon,  therefore,  gave  orders 
to  charge  through  the  Indian  column,  which  was  done  by 
first  firing  their  rifles  upon  the  enemy,  and  then  beating 
down  all  that  stood  in  their  way.  But  this  attempt, 
though  it  proved  successful,  had  like  to  have  cost  the 
life  of  their  leader.  Boon  received  a  ball  through  the 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  217 

leg,  which  broke  the  bone,  and  left  him  on  the  ground ; 
but  when  the  tomahawk  was  uplifted  to  dispatch  the  fallen 
captain,  Kenton  came  to  his  rescue,  discharged  the  con- 
tents of  his  gun  through  the  body  of  the  Indian,  and  con- 
veyed his  leader  safe  into  the  fort.  Of  the  fourteen  men 
engaged  in  this  affray,  seven  were  wounded  but  none 
killed.  After  they  had  got  in,  and  the  gate  was  closed, 
Boon  sent  for  Kenton,  and  said,  *'  Well,  Simon,  you  have 
behaved  like  a  man  to-day.  Indeed  you  are  a  fine  fel- 
low." This  simple  eulogium  was  probably  as  gratifying 
to  Kenton  as  any  thing  could  have  been ;  and  certainly 
the  circumstances  that  called  it  forth  were  more  praise- 
worthy than  many  acts  that  have  crowned  their  perform- 
ers with  fame  and  titles  of  honor.  The  Indians  contin- 
ued around  the  fort  two  or  three  days,  and  then  with- 
drew. 

As  has  been  intimated,  this  fort  sustained  two  other  at- 
tacks during  the  year.  On  both  occasions  Kenton  was 
in  the  fort,  and  at  his  post ;  and  though  they  were  ap- 
prised of  the  approach  of  the  enemy,  and  consequently 
better  prepared  for  the  assault,  yet  their  sufferings  were 
great.  Their  cattle  was  killed,  their  horses  stolen,  and 
their  situation  so  precarious  that  neither  corn  nor  other 
vegetables  could  be  cultivated.  Meat  they  must  have  or 
perish,  and  this  was  procured  at  the  risk  and  even  the 
loss  of  many  lives.  To  obtain  this,  the  custom  of  the 
hunters  was  to  steal  out  in  the  dark,  and  go  to  the  dis- 
tance of  twelve  or  fifteen  miles  from  the  fort ;  then  after 
killing  their  meat  and  drying  it  over  a  fire,  to  load  them- 
selves with  as  much  as  they  could  carry,  and  approach  as 
near  the  fort  as  they  could  in  safety  by  day,  then  when 
night  came  to  creep  cautiously  to  the  wall,  give  a  signal 
and  be  admitted.  In  this  hazardous  employment  many 
lives  were  sacrificed,  but  it  was  the  only  means  of  pre- 
serving their  existence.  And  even  this  afforded  but 
scanty  subsistence ;  for  they  were  sometimes  in  want 


218  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

and  always  compelled  to  eat  their  meat  without  either 
bread  or  salt.  Kenton  was  employed  as  a  spy  till  the 
close  of  the  year  1777. 

In  1778,  Capt.  Watkins,  with  a  few  men,  was  sent 
from  Virginia  to  aid  in  the  defence  of  Kentucky,  and  was 
stationed  at  Boon's  fort.  It  was  agreed  between  Boon 
and  Watkins  that  they  would  go  alternately  to  the  Blue- 
lick,  and  make  salt  for  the  settlements.  Boon  went  first, 
and  fell  to  work  with  about  thirty  men ;  who  while  thus 
employed  were  dependent  upon  game  from  the  woods 
for  their  support.  One  day  Boon  having  gone  out  to 
hunt,  was  surprised  and  taken  prisoner  by  a  party  of  In- 
dians under  the  command  of  a  chief  by  the  name  of  Black 
Fish.  As  the  Indians  were  several  hundred  in  number, 
Boon  capitulated  for  his  men  at  the  lick,  who  were  all 
taken  but  Thomas  Brooks  and  another,  who  were  out  on 
a  hunting  excursion.  Brooks  and  his  companion,  hav- 
ing thus  escaped,  fled  for  Boon's  station,  with  the  dole- 
ful tidings ;  and  on  their  way  met  Capt.  Watkins  pro- 
ceeding to  the  lick,  who  immediately  returned  to  the  fort, 
and  the  salt  scheme  was  abandoned.  Kenton,  Haggin, 
and  a  few  others,  anxious  for  their  captured  friends,  start- 
ed for  the  lick,  found  the  Indian  trail,  and  cautiously  fol- 
lowed it  to  where  they  had  crossed  the  Ohio,  some  dis- 
tance above  the  mouth  of  Licking,  and  then  returned  to 
the  station.  At  this  time  Kenton  resumed  his  occupation 
of  ranging  the  country  as  a  spy. 

In  the  course  of  the  preceding  winter,  Maj.  Clark  had 
gone  to  Virginia  to  solicit  aid  in  defence  of  the  country  ; 
and  having  obtained  a  few  men,  he  descended  the  Ohio 
about  the  first  of  June,  and  encamped  on  an  island  at  the 
falls.  From  thence  he  dispatched  messengers  to  Boon's 
and  Harrod's  stations  for  as  many  men  as  could  be  spar- 
ed, to  join  him  in  an  expedition  against  the  British  set- 
tlements on  the  Mississippi,  This,  with  those  who  had 
families  in  the  forts,  was  an  unpopular  movement.  They 


GENERAL    SIMON   KENTON.  219 

were  of  opinion  that  no  man  ought  to  leave  them ;  and 
consequently  Kenton  and  Haggin  were  all  that  did  go. 
Clark  was  mortified  at  receiving  so  small  a  reinforce- 
ment ;  but  hearing  that  Capt.  Montgomery,  with  a  party 
of  men,  was  making  salt  at  Drenning's  lick,  he  sent  Ken- 
ton  to  solicit  aid  from  him.  Montgomery  was  an  Irish- 
man, "  full  of  fight,"  and  immediately  with  his  whole 
party,  ten  or  twelve  men,  proceeded  to  the  falls.  Clark's 
force  now  amounted  to  one  hundred  and  fifty-three  men ; 
and  seeing  no  prospect  of  increasing  it,  he  left  his  camp 
and  moved  down  the  Ohio.  What  a  handful  of  men  for 
an  expedition  so  hazardous.  Landing  at  a  place  called 
Cherokee  fort,  below  the  mouth  of  Tennessee,  they  sunk 
their  boats,  and  taking  their  baggage,  provisions,  and 
camp  equipage  upon  their  backs,  marched  through  the 
wilderness  one  hundred  and  twenty  miles,  to  Okaw,  or 
Kaskaskia.  This  town  and  fort,  commanded  by  one 
who  was  called  the  Governor,  Clark  determined  to  take 
by  surprise.  The  first  object  was  to  get  possession  of 
the  fort,  and  then  he  concluded  the  town  would  make  no 
resistance.  The  hour  of  midnight  was  chosen  for  the  at- 
tack. On  approaching  the  fort  they  saw  a  light  in  a 
small  house  near  it,  and  a  few  men  were  sent  to  surround 
it.  They  found  it  occupied  by  a  Pennsylvanian,  who 
disliked  the  French  and  was  ready  to  aid  in  taking  the 
place.  He  informed  them  that  the  fort  kept  no  sentinels, 
and  led  the  way  to  a  place  where  the  pickets  were  so 
rotten  as  to  be  easily  broken  down.  Here  the  whole 
party  entered,  and  being  shown  the  Governor's  room, 
Kenton  and  a  few  others  went  into  it,  and  gently  waked 
him  out  of  a  sound  sleep.  Resistance  being  then  use- 
less, he  at  once  surrendered  himself  and  his  sleeping 
comrades,  prisoners  of  war.  This  conquest,  effected 
without  the  aid  of  artillery,  wagon,  or  horse,  was  main- 
tained to  the  close  of  the  revolutionary  struggle,  and  was 
of  much  advantage  to  our  infant  settlements  in  the  west. 


220  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

A  few  days  after  the  surrender  of  this  place,  Kenton 
and  a  few  others  were  dispatched  with  an  express  to  Col. 
Bowman,  who  then  commanded  at  Harrodsburg.  He 
was  directed  to  take  Vincennes  in  his  way,  and  endeavor 
to  ascertain  whether  it  could  be  easily  taken ;  also,  to 
destroy  his  papers,  and  trust  to  his  memory  for  their  con- 
tents, if  he  should  be  likely  to  fall  into  the  hands  of  the 
enemy.  Approaching  Vincennes,  he  tore  up  his  papers, 
and  lying  concealed  by  day  and  reconnoitering  at  night, 
continued  round  the  town  for  three  days.  Having  thus 
satisfied  himself  of  the  strength  and  situation  of  the  place, 
he  sent  one  of  his  companions  with  Ihe  intelligence  back 
to  Clark,  while  he  and  the  other  prosecuted  their  jour- 
ney, and  arrived  at  Harrodsburgh  in  thirteen  days. 

By  this  time  Boon  had  made  his  escape  from  the  In- 
dians,  and  on  Kenton's  return  he  proposed  to  him  to  join 
in  an  expedition  against  a  small  Indian  town  on  Paint 
creek.  The  proposal  was  accepted,  and  taking  nineteen 
men,  they  set  off  for  the  town.  When  they  had  ap- 
proached within  five  or  six  miles  of  the  place,  they  were 
met  by  about  forty  Indians,  whom  they  attacked  and  put 
to  flight  without  receiving  any  injury.  Knowing  now 
that  the  Indians  were  aware  of  their  approach,  and  con- 
sequently that  the  town  could  not  be  taken  by  surprise, 
Boon  thought  it  advisable  to  return.  But  Kenton  and 
another  man  by  the  name  of  Montgomery  determined  to 
remain,  and  learn  something  more  of  the  Indians,  and  if 
possible,  secure  some  of  their  horses.  Hence,  conceal- 
ing themselves  near  the  path  leading  from  the  town,  they 
watched  the  whole  day  without  discovering  any  Indians  ; 
and  when  night  came  they  approached  the  town,  but 
could  not  discover  that  the  Indians  were  at  all  alarmed  at 
the  affray  of  the  morning.  The  next  day  they  lay  con- 
cealed near  a  cornfield,  but  saw  no  Indians  except  some 
children  that  did  not  approach  near  enough  to  discover 
them.  On  the  second  night  they  caught  two  horses  and 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON. 


221 


made  a  start  for  home.  Discovering,  after  crossing  the 
Ohio,  a  large  Indian  trail  leading  in  the  direction  of 
Boonsborough,  they  turned  their  course  and  went  to  Lo- 
gan's. They  afterwards  learned  that  the  Indians  whose 
trail  they  had  seen,  were  at  that  time  besieging  Boon. 
This  siege  they  kept  up  for  several  days  ;  but  after  kill- 
ing one  white  man  and  a  negro,  and  suffering  considera- 
ble loss  themselves,  they  retired  in  despair ;  and  on  the 
next  day  Kenton  and  Montgomery  rode  into  the  fort  upon 
their  Indian  horses. 

Kenton  lay  about  Boon's  and  Logan's  stations  till  ease 
became  irksome  to  him.  About  the  first  of  September 
of  this  same  year,  1778,  we  find  him  preparing  for  an- 
other Indian  expedition.  Alexander  Montgomery  and 
George  Clark  joined  him,  and  they  set  off  from  Boon's 
station  for  the  avowed  purpose  of  obtaining  horses  from 
the  Indians.  They  crossed  the  Ohio,  and  proceeded 
cautiously  to  Chillicothe  (now  Oldtown.)  They  arrived 
at  the  town  without  meeting  any  adventure.  In  the  night 
they  fell  in  with  a  drove  of  horses  that  were  feeding  in 
the  rich  prairies.  They  were  prepared  with  salt  and 
halters.  They  had  much  difficulty  to  catch  the  horses  ; 
however,  at  length  they  succeeded,  and  as  soon  as  the 
horses  were  haltered,  they  dashed  off  with  seven — a 
pretty  good  haul.  They  traveled  with  all  the  speed  they 
could  to  the  Ohio.  They  came  to  the  Ohio  near  the 
mouth  of  Eagle  creek,  now  in  Brown  county.  When 
they  came  to  the  river,  the  wind  blew  almost  a  hurri- 
cane. The  waves  ran  so  high  that  the  horses  were  fright- 
ened, and  could  not  be  induced  to  take  the  water.  It 
was  late  in  the  evening.  They  then  rode  back  into  the 
hills  some  distance  from  the  river,  hobbled  and  turned 
their  horses  loose  to  graze  ;  while  they  turned  back  some 
distance,  and  watched  the  trail  they  had  come,  to  dis- 
cover whether  or  no  they  were  pursued.  Here  they  re- 
mained till  the  following  day,  when  the  wind  subsided. 


222  A  SKETCH    OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

As  soon  as  the  wind  fell  they  caught  their  horses,  and 
went  again  to  the  river ;  but  their  horses  were  so  fright- 
ened with  the  waves  the  day  before,  that  all  their  efforts 
could  not  induce  them  to  take  the  water.  This  was  a 
sore  disappointment  to  our  adventurers.  They  were 
satisfied  that  they  were  pursued  by  the  enemy;  they 
therefore  determined  to  lose  no  more  time  in  useless  ef- 
forts to  cross  the  Ohio  ;  they  concluded  to  select  three  of 
the  best  horses,  and  make  their  way  to  the  falls  of  the 
Ohio,  where  Gen.  Clark  had  left  some  men  stationed. 
Each  made  choice  of  a  horse,  and  the  other  horses  were 
turned  loose  to  shift  for  themselves.  After  the  spare 
horses  had  been  loosed,  and  permitted  to  ramble  off,  ava- 
rice whispered  to  them,  and  why  not  take  all  the  horses. 
The  loose  horses  had  by  this  time  scattered  and  strag- 
gled out  of  sight.  Our  party  now  separated  to  hunt  up 
the  horses  they  had  turned  loose.  Kenton  went  towards 
the  river,  and  had  not  gone  far  before  he  heard  a  whoop 
in  the  direction  of  where  they  had  been  trying  to  force 
the  horses  into  the  water.  He  got  off  his  horse  and  tied 
him,  and  then  crept  with  the  stealthy  tread  of  the  cat, 
to  make  observations  in  the  direction  he  had  heard  the 
whoop.  Just  as  he  reached  the  high  bank  of  the  river, 
he  met  the  Indians  on  horseback.  Being  unperceived 
by  them,  but  so  nigh  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  re- 
treat without  being  discovered,  he  concluded  the  boldest 
course  to  be  the  safest,  and  very  deliberately  took  aim  at 
the  foremost  Indian.  His  gun  flashed  in  the  pan.  He 
then  retreated.  The  Indians  pursued  on  horseback.  In 
his  retreat,  he  passed  through  a  piece  of  land  where  a 
storm  had  torn  up  a  great  part  of  the  timber.  The  fallen 
trees  afforded  him  some  advantage  of  the  Indians  in  the 
race,  as  they  were  on  horseback  and  he  on  foot.  The 
Indian  force  divided  ;  some  rode  on  one  side  of  the  fallen 
timber,  and  some  on  the  other.  Just  as  he  emerged  from 
the  fallen  timber,  at  the  foot  of  the  hill,  one  of  the  Indians 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  223 

met  him  on  horseback,  and  boldly  rode  up  to  him,  jump- 
ed off  his  horse  and  rushed  at  him  with  his  tomahawk. 
Kenton  concluding  a  gun-barrel  as  good  a  weapon  of  de- 
fence as  a  tomahawk,  drew  back  his  gun  to  strike  the  In- 
dian before  him.  At  that  instant  another  Indian,  who 
unperceived  by  Kenton  had  slipped  up  behind  him, 
clasped  him  in  his  arms.  Being  now  overpowered  by 
numbers,  further  resistance  was  useless — he  surrendered. 
Whilst  the  Indians  were  binding  Kenton  with  tugs, 
Montgomery  came  in  view,  and  fired  at  the  Indians,  but 
missed  his  mark.  Montgomery  fled  on  foot.  Some  of 
the  Indians  pursued,  shot  at,  and  missed  him ;  a  second 
fire  was  made,  and  Montgomery  fell.  The  Indians  soon 
returned  to  Kenton,  shaking  at  him  Montgomery's  bloody 
scalp.  George  Clark,  Kenton's  other  companion,  made 
his  escape,  crossed  the  Ohio,  and  arrived  safe  at  Logan's 
station. 

The  Indians  encamped  that  night  on  the  bank  of  the 
Ohio.  The  next  morning  they  prepared  their  horses  for 
a  return  to  their  towns  with  the  unfortunate  and  unhappy 
prisoner.  Nothing  but  death  in  the  most  appalling  form 
presented  itself  to  his  view.  When  they  were  ready  to 
set  off,  they  caught  the  wildest  horse  in  the  company, 
and  placed  Kenton  on  his  back.  The  horse  being  very 
restif,  it  took  several  of  them  to  hold  him,  whilst  the 
others  lashed  the  prisoner  on  the  horse.  They  first  took 
a  tug,  or  rope,  and  fastened  his  legs  and  feet  together  un- 
der the  horse.  They  took  another  and  fastened  his  arms. 
They  took  another  and  tied  around  his  neck,  and  fasten- 
ed one  end  of  it  around  the  horse's  neck  ;  the  other  end 
of  this  same  rope  was  fastened  to  the  horse's  tail,  to  an- 
swer in  place  of  a  crupper.  They  had  a  great  deal  of 
amusement  to  themselves,  as  they  were  preparing  Ken- 
ton  and  his  horse  for  fun  and  frolic.  They  would  yelp 
and  scream  around  him,  and  ask  him  if  he  wished  to  steal 
more  horses.  Another  rope  was  fastened  around  his 


224  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

thighs,  and  lashed  around  the  body  of  the  horse  ;  a  pair 
of  moccasons  was  drawn  over  his  hands,  to  prevent  him 
from  defending  his  face  from  the  brush.  Thus  accoutered 
and  fastened,  the  horse  was  turned  loose  to  the  woods. 
He  reared  and  plunged,  ran  through  the  woods  for  some 
time,  to  the  infinite  amusement  of  the  Indians.  After 
the  horse  had  run  about,  plunging,  rearing,  and  kicking, 
for  some  time,  and  found  that  he  could  not  shake  off",  nor 
kick  off  his  rider,  he  very  quietly  submitted  himself  to 
his  situation,  and  followed  the  cavalcade  as  quiet  and 
peaceable  as  his  rider.  The  Indians  moved  towards 
Chillicothe,  and  in  three  days  reached  the  town.  At 
night  they  confined  their  prisoner  in  the  following  man- 
ner: He  was  laid  on  his  back,  his  legs  extended,  drawn 
apart,  and  fastened  to  two  saplings  or  stakes  driven  in 
the  ground.  His  arms  were  extended,  a  pole  laid  across 
his  breast,  and  his  arm  lashed  to  the  pole  with  cords. 
A  rope  was  tied  around  his  neck,  and  stretched  back  just 
tight  enough  not  to  choke  him,  and  fastened  to  a  tree  or 
stake  near  his  head.  In  this  painful  and  uncomfortable 
situation,  he  spent  three  miserable  nights,  exposed  to 
gnats,  and  musketoes,  and  weather.  O,  ^oor  human  na- 
ture, what  miserable  wretches  we  are,  thus  to  punish  and 
harass  each  other.  (The  frontier  whites  of  that  day, 
were  but  little  behind  the  Indians,  in  wiles,  in  cruelty, 
and  revenge.)  When  the  Indians  came  within  about  a 
mile  of  the  Chillicothe  town,  they  halted  and  camped  for 
the  night,  and  fastened  the  poor  unfortunate  prisoner  in 
the  usual  uncomfortable  manner.  The  Indians,  young 
and  old,  came  from  the  town  to  welcome  the  return  of 
their  successful  warriors,  and  to  visit  their  prisoner.  The 
Indian  party,  young  and  old,  consisting  of  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty,  commenced  dancing,  singing,  and  yelling 
around  Kenton,  stopping  occasionally  and  kicking  and 
beating  him  for  amusement.  In  this  manner  they  tor- 
mented him  for  about  three  hours,  when  the  cavalcade 


GENERAL    SIMOX    KF.NTON.  225 

returned  to  town,  and  he  was  left  for  the  rest  of  the  night, 
exhausted  and  forlorn,  to  the  tender  mercies  of  the  gnats 
and  musketoes.  As  soon  as  it  was  light  in  the  morning, 
the  Indians  began  to  collect  from  the  town,  and  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  fun  and  frolic  at  the  expense  of  Ken- 
ton,  as  he  was  now  doomed  to  run  the  gauntlet.  The 
Indians  were  formed  in  two  lines,  about  six  feet  apart, 
with  each  a  hickory  in  his  hands,  and  Kenton  placed  be- 
tween the  two  lines,  so  that  each  Indian  could  beat  him 
as  much  as  he  thought  proper,  as  he  ran  through  the 
lines.  He  had  not  ran  far  before  he  discovered  an  In- 
dian with  his  knife  drawn  to  plunge  it  into  him  ;  as  soon 
as  Kenton  reached  that  part  of  the  line  where  the  Indian 
stood  who  had  the  knife  drawn,  he  broke  through  the 
lines,  and  made  with  all  speed  for  the  town.  Kenton 
had  been  previously  informed  by  a  negro  named  Caesar, 
who  lived  with  the  Indians  and  knew  their  customs,  that 
if  he  could  break  through  the  Indians'  lines,  and  arrive 
at  the  council-house  in  the  town  before  he  was  overta- 
ken, that  they  would  not  force  him  a  second  time  to  run 
the  gauntlet.  When  he  broke  through  their  lines,  he  ran 
at  the  top  of  his  speed  for  the  council-house,  pursued  by 
two  or  three  hundred  Indians,  yelling  and  screaming  like 
infernal  furies.  Just  as  he  had  entered  the  town,  he  was 
met  by  an  Indian  leisurely  walking  towards  the  scene  of 
amusement,  wrapped  in  a  blanket.  The  Indian  threw 
off  his  blanket ;  and  as  he  was  fresh,  and  Kenton  nearly 
exhausted,  the  Indian  soon  caught  him,  threw  him  down. 
In  a  moment  the  whole  party  who  were  in  pursuit  came  up, 
and  fell  to  cuffing  and  kicking  him  at  a  most  fearful  rate. 
They  tore  off  all  his  clothes,  and  left  him  naked  and  ex- 
hausted. After  he  had  laid  till  he  had  in  some  degree 
recovered  from  his  exhausted  state,  they  brought  him 
some  water  and  something  to  eat.  As  soon  as  his 
strength  was  sufficiently  recovered,  they  took  him  to  the 
council-house,  to  determine  upon  his  fate.  Their  man- 


226  A    SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

ner  of  deciding  his  fate,  was  as  follows  :  Their  warriors 
were  placed  in  a  circle  in  the  council-house  ;  an  old  chief 
was  placed  in  tne  center  of  the  circle,  with  a  knife  and  a 
piece  of  wood  in  his  hands.  A  number  of  speeches  were 
made.  Kenton,  although  he  did  not  understand  their 
language,  soon  discovered  by  their  animated  gestures, 
and  fierce  looks  at  him,  that  a  majority  of  their  speakers 
wore  contending  for  his  destruction.  He  could  perceive 
that  those  who  plead  for  mercy,  were  received  coolly ; 
but  few  grunts  of  approbation  were  uttered  when  the 
orators  closed  their  speeches.  After  the  orators  ceased 
speaking,  the  old  chief  who  sat  in  the  midst  of  the  circle, 
raised  up  and  handed  a  war-club  to  the  man  who  sat  next 
the  door.  They  proceeded  to  take  the  decision  of  their 
court.  All  who  were  for  the  death  of  the  prisoner,  struck 
the  war-club  with  violence  against  the  ground ;  those 
who  voted  to  save  the  prisoner's  life,  passed  the  club  to 
his  next  neighbor  without  striking  the  ground.  Kenton, 
from  their  expressive  gestures,  could  easily  distinguish 
the  object  of  their  vote.  The  old  chief  who  stood  to 
witness  and  record  the  number  that  voted  for  death  or 
mercy,  as  one  struck  the  ground  with  the  war-club,  he 
made  a  mark  on  one  side  of  his  piece  of  wood  ;  and  when 
the  club  was  passed  without  striking,  he  made  a  mark 
on  the  other.  Kenton  discovered  that  a  large  majority 
were  for  death. 

Sentence  of  death  being  now  passed  fipon  the  prisoner, 
they  made  the  welkin  ring  with  shouts  of  joy.  The  sen- 
tence of  death  being  passed,  there  was  another  question 
of  considerable  difficulty  now  presented  itself  to  the  con- 
sideration of  the  council ;  that  was,  the  time  and  place, 
when  and  where,  he  should  be  burnt.  The  orators  again 
made  speeches  on  the  snbject,  less  animated  indeed  than 
on  the  trial ;  but  some  appeared  to  be  quite  vehement  for 
instant  execution,  whilst  others  appeared  to  wish  to  make 
his  death  a  solemn  national  sacrifice.  After  a  long  de- 


GENERAL   SIMON    KENTON.  227 

bate,  the  vote  was  taken,  when  it  was  resolved  that  the 
place  of  his  execution  should  be  Wapatomika  (now 
Zanesfield,  Logan  county.)  The  next  morning  he  was 
hurried  away  to  the  place  destined  for  his  execution. 
From  Chillicothe  to  Wapatomika,  they  had  to  pass 
through  two  other  Indian  towns,  to  wit :  Pickaway  and 
Machecheek.  At  both  towns  he  was  compelled  to  run  the 
gauntlet ;  and  severely  was  he  whipped  through  the  course. 
While  he  lay  at  Machecheek,  being  carelessly  guarded, 
he  made  an  attempt  to  escape.  Nothing  worse  than  death 
could  follow,  and  here  he  made  a  bold  push  for  life  and 
freedom.  Being  unconfined,  he  broke  and  run,  and  soon 
cleared  himself  out  of  sight  of  his  pursuers.  Whilst  he 
distanced  his  pursuers,  and  got  about  two  miles  from  the 
town,  he  accidentally  met  some  Indians  on  horseback. 
They  instantly  pursued,  and  soon  came  up  with  him,  and 
drove  him  back  again  to  the  town.  He  now,  for  the  first 
time,  gave  up  his  case  as  hopeless.  Nothing  but  death 
stared  him  in  the  face.  Fate,  it  appeared  to  him,  had  sealed 
his  doom ;  and  in  sullen  despair,  he  determined  to  await 
that  doom,  that  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  shun.  How  in- 
scrutable are  the  ways  of  Providence,  and  how  little  can 
man  control  his  destiny  !  When  the  Indians  returned  with 
Kenton  to  the  town,  there  was  a  general  rejoicing.  He 
was  pinioned,  and  given  over  to  the  young  Indians,  who 
dragged  him  into  the  creek,  tumbled  him  in  the  water, 
and  rolled  him  in  the  mud,  till  he  was  nearly  suffocated 
with  mud  and  water.  In  this  way  they  amused  them- 
selves with  him  till  he  was  nearly  drowned.  He  now 
thought  himself  forsaken  by  God.  Shortly  after  this  his 
tormentors  moved  with  him  to  Wapatomika.  As  soon 
as  he  arrived  at  this  place,  the  Indians,  young  and  old, 
male  and  female,  crowded  around  the  prisoner.  Amongst 
others  who  came  to  see  him,  was  the  celebrated  and  no- 
torious Simon  Girty.  It  will  be  recollected  that  Kenton 
and  Girty  were  bosom  companions  at  Fort  Pitt,  and  on 


228  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

the  campaign  with  Lord  Dunmore.  As  it  was  the  cus- 
tom of  the  Indians  to  black  such  prisoners  as  were  intend- 
ed to  be  put  to  death,  Girty  did  not  immediately  recog- 
nize Kenton  in  his  black  disguise.  Girty  came  forward 
and  inquired  of  Kenton  where  he  had  lived.  Was  an- 
swered Kentucky.  He  next  inquired  how  many  men 
there  were  in  Kentucky.  He  answered,  he  did  not  know; 
but  would  give  him  the  names  and  rank  of  the  officers, 
and  he,  Girty,  could  judge  of  the  probable  number  of 
men.  Kenton  then  named  a  great  many  officers,  and 
their  rank,  many  of  whom  had  honorary  titles,  without 
any  command.  At  length  Girty  asked  the  prisoner  his 
name.  When  he  was  answered,  Simon  Butler.  (It  will 
be  recollected,  that  he  changed  his  name  when  he 
fled  from  his  parents  and  home.)  Girty  eyed  him  for  a 
moment,  and  immediately  recognized  the  active  and  bold 
youth,  who  had  been  his  companion  in  arms  about  Fort 
Pitt,  and  on  the  campaign  with  Lord  Dunmore.  Girty 
threw  himself  into  Kenton's  arms,  embraced  and  wept 
aloud  over  him — calling  him  his  dear  and  esteemed  friend. 
This  hardened  wretch,  who  had  been  the  cause  of  the 
death  of  hundreds,  had  some  of  the  sparks  of  humanity 
remaining  in  him,  and  wept  like  a  child  at  the  tragical 
fate  which  hung  over  his  friend.  "  Well,"  said  he  to 
Kenton,  "  you  are  condemned  to  die,  but  I  will  use  every 
means  in  my  power  to  save  your  life." 

Girty  immediately  had  a  council  convened,  and  made 
a  long  speech  to  the  Indians,  to  save  the  life  of  the  pris- 
oner. As  Girty  was  proceeding  through  his  speech,  he 
became  very  animated ;  and  under  his  powerful  elo- 
quence, Kenton  could  plainly  discover  the  grim  visages 
of  his  savage  judges  relent.  When  Girty  concluded  his 
powerful  and  animated  speech,  the  Indians  rose  with  one 
simultaneous  grunt  of  approbation,  saved  the  prisoner's 
life,  and  placed  him  under  the  care  and  protection  of  his 
old  companion,  Girty. 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  229 

The  British  had  a  trading  establishment  then  at  Wap- 
«tomika.  Girty  took  Kenton  with  him  to  the  store,  and 
dressed  him,  from  head  to  foot,  as  well  as  he  could  wish  ; 
he  was  also  provided  with  a  horse  and  saddle.  Kenton 
was  now  free,  and  roamed  about  through  the  country, 
from  Indian  town  to  town,  in  company  with  his  benefac- 
tor. How  uncertain  is  the  fate  of  nations  as  well  as  that 
of  individuals  !  How  sudden  the  changes  from  adversity 
to  prosperity,  and  from  prosperity  to  adversity  !  Kenton 
being  a  strong,  robust  man,  with  an  iron  frame,  with  a 
resolution  that  never  winced  at  danger,  and  fortitude  to 
bear  pain  with  the  composure  of  a  stoic,  he  soon  recov- 
ered from  his  scourges  and  bruises,  and  the  other  severe 
treatment  he  had  received.  It  is  thought  probable,  that 
if  the  Indians  had  continued  to  treat  him  with  kindness 
and  respect,  he  would  eventually  have  become  one  of 
them.  He  had  but  few  inducements  to  return  again  to 
the  whites.  He  was  then  a  fugitive  from  justice,  had 
changed  his  name,  and  he  thought  it  his  interest  to  keep 
as  far  from  his  former  acquaintances  as  possible.  After 
Kenton  and  his  benefactor  had  been  roaming  about  for 
some  time,  a  war  party  of  Indians,  who  had  been  on  an 
expedition  to  the  neighborhood  of  Wheeling,  returned  ; 
they  had  been  defeated  by  the  whites,  some  of  their  men 
were  killed,  and  others  wounded.  When  this  defeated 
party  returned  they  were  sullen,  chagrined,  and  full  of 
revenge,  and  determined  to  kill  any  of  the  whites  who 
came  within  their  grasp.  Kenton  was  then  the  only 
white  man  upon  whom  they  could  satiate  their  revenge. 
Kenton  and  Girty  were  then  at  Solomon's  town,  a  small 
distance  from  Wapatomika.  A  message  was  immediately 
sent  to  Girty  to  return,  and  bring  Kenton  with  him.  The 
two  friends  met  the  messenger  on  the  way.  The  mes- 
senger shook  hands  with  Girty,  but  refused  the  hand  of 
Kenton.  Girty,  after  talking  aside  with  the  messenger 
some  time,  said  to  Kenton,  they  have  sent  for  us  to  attend 


230  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

a  grand  council  at  Wapatomika.  They  hurried  to  the 
town  ;  and  when  they  arrived  there  the  council  house  was 
crowded.  When  Girty  went  into  the  house,  the  Indians 
all  rose  up  and  shook  hands  with  him  ;  but  when  Ken- 
ton  offered  his  hand  it  was  refused,  with  a  scowl  of  con- 
tempt. This  alarmed  him;  he  began  to  admit  the  idea 
that  this  sudden  convention  of  the  council,  and  their  re- 
fusing his  hand,  boded  him  some  evil.  After  the  mem- 
bers of  the  council  were  seated  in  their  usual  manner, 
the  war  chief  of  the  defeated  party  rose  up  and  made  a 
most  vehement  speech,  frequently  turning  his  fiery  and 
revengeful  eyes  on  Kenton  during  his  speech.  Girty 
was  the  next  to  rise  to  address  the  council.  He  told  them 
that  he  had  lived  with  them  several  years ;  that  he  had 
risked  his  life  in  that  time  more  frequently  than  any  of 
them ;  that  they  all  knew  that  he  had  never  spared  the 
life  of  one  of  the  hated  Americans  ;  that  they  well  knew 
that  he  had  never  asked  for  a  division  of  the  spoils ;  that 
he  fought  alone  for  the  destruction  of  their  enemies  ;  and 
that  he  now  requested  them  to  spare  the  life  of  this  young 
man  on  his  account.  The  young  man,  he  said,  was  his  early 
friend,  for  whom  he  felt  the  tenderness  of  a  parent  for  .a 
son,  and  he  hoped,  after  the  many  evidences  that  he  had 
given  of  his  attachment  to  the  Indian  cause,  they  would 
not  hesitate  to  grant  his  request.  If  they  would  indulge 
him  in  granting  his  request  to  spare  the  life  of  this  young 
man,  he  would  pledge  himself  never  to  ask  them  again  to 
spare  the  life  of  a  hated  American. 

Several  chiefs  spoke  in  succession  on  this  important 
subject;  and  with  the  most  apparent  deliberation,  the 
council  decided,  by  an  overwhelming  majority,  for  death. 
After  the  decision  of  this  grand  court  was  announced, 
Girty  went  to  Kenton,  and  embracing  him  very  tenderly, 
said  that  he  very  sincerely  sympathized  with  him  in  his 
forlorn  and  unfortunate  situation  ;  that  he  had  used  all  the 
efforts  he  was  master  of  to  save  his  life,  but  it  was  now 


GENERAL   SIMON    KEN TON.  231 

decreed  that  he  must  die — that  he  could  do  no  more  for 
him.  Awful  doom ! 

It  will  be  recollected,  that  this  was  in  1778,  in  the 
midst  of  the  American  revolution.  Upper  Sandusky  was 
then  the  place  where  the  British  paid  their  western  In- 
dian allies  their  annuities ;  and  as  time  might  effect  what 
his  eloquence  could  not,  Girty,  as  a  last  resort,  persuaded 
the  Indians  to  convey  their  prisoner  to  Sandusky,  as 
there  would  meet  vast  numbers  to  receive  their  presents ; 
that  the  assembled  tribes  could  there  witness  the  solemn 
scene  of  the  death  of  the  prisoner.  To  this  proposition 
the  council  agreed ;  and  the  prisoner  was  placed  in  the 
care  of  five  Indians,  who  forthwith  set  off  for  Upper  San- 
dusky. What  windings,  and  twistings,  and  turnings,  were 
seen  in  the  fate  of  our  hero. 

As  the  Indians  passed  from  Wapatomika  to  Upper  San- 
dusky, they  went  through  a  small  village  on  the  river  Sci- 
oto,  where  then  resided  the  celebrated  chief  Logan,  of 
Jefferson  memory.  Logan,  unlike  the  rest  of  his  tribe, 
was  humane  as  he  was  brave.  At  his  wigwam  the  party 
who  had  the  care  of  the  prisoner,  staid  over  night.  Dur- 
ing the  evening,  Logan  entered  into  conversation  with 
the  prisoner.  The  next  morning  he  told  Kenton  that  he 
would  detain  the  party  that  day — that  he  had  sent  two  of 
his  young  men  off  the  night  before  to  Upper  Sandusky, 
to  speak  a  good  word  for  him.  Logan  was  great  and 
good — the  friend  of  all  men.  In  the  course  of  the  follow- 
ing evening  his  young  men  returned,  and  early  the  next 
morning  the  guard  set  off  with  the  prisoner  for  Upper 
Sandusky.  When  Kenton's  party  set  off  from  Logan's, 
Logan  shook  hands  with  the  prisoner,  but  gave  no  inti- 
mation of  what  might  probably  be  his  fate.  The  party 
went  on  with  Kenton  till  they  came  in  view  of  the 
Upper  Sandusky  town.  The  Indians,  young  and  old, 
came  out  to  meet  and  welcome  the  warriors,  and  view  the 
prisoner.  Here  he  was  not  compelled  to  run  the  gauut- 
17 


232  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

let.  A  grand  council  was  immediately  convened  to  de- 
termine upon  the  fate  of  Kenton.  This  was  the  fourth 
council  which  was  held  to  dispose  of  the  life  of  the  pris- 
oner. As  soon  as  this  grand  court  was  organized  and 
ready  to  proceed  to  business,  a  Canadian  Frenchman,  by 
the  name  of  Peter  Druyer,  who  was  a  captain  in  the 
British  service,  and  dressed  in  the  gaudy  appendages  of 
the  British  uniform,  made  his  appearance  in  the  council. 
This  Druyer  was  born  and  raised  in  Detroit — he  was 
connected  with  the  British  Indian  agent  department — 
was  their  principal  interpreter  in  settling  Indian  affairs  ; 
this  made  him  a  man  of  great  consequence  among  the  In- 
dians. It  was  to  this  influential  man,  that  the  good  chief 
Logan,  the  friend  of  all  the  human  family,  sent  his  young 
men  to  intercede  for  the  life  of  Kenton.  His  judgment 
and  address  were  only  equaled  by  his  humanity.  His 
foresight  in  selecting  the  agent  who  it  was  most  proba- 
ble could  save  the  life  of  the  prisoner,  proves  his  judg- 
ment and  his  knowledge  of  the  human  heart.  As  soon 
as  the  grand  council  was  organized,  Captain  Druyer  re- 
quested permission  to  address  the  council.  This  per- 
mission was  instantly  granted.  He  began  his  speech  by 
stating,  "  that  it  was  well  known  that  it  was  the  wish 
and  interest  of  the  English  that  not  an  American  should 
be  left  alive.  That  the  Americans  were  the  cause  of  the 
present  bloody  and  distressing  war — that  neither  peace 
nor  safety  could  be  expected,  so  long  as  these  intruders 
were  permitted  to  live  upon  the  earth."  This  part  of 
his  speech  received  repeated  grunts  of  approbation.  He 
then  explained  to  the  Indians,  "  that  the  war  to  be  car- 
ried on  successfully,  required  cunning  as  well  as  bravery 
— that  the  intelligence  which  might  be  extorted  from  a 
prisoner,  would  be  of  more  advantage,  in  conducting  the 
future  operations  of  the  war,  than  would  be  the  life  of 
twenty  prisoners.  That  he  had  no  doubt  but  the  com- 
manding officer  at  Detroit  could  procure  information  from 


GENERAL   SIMON   KENTON.  233 

the  prisoner  now  before  them,  that  would  be  of  incalcu- 
lable advantage  to  them  in  the  progress  of  the  present 
war.  Under  these  circumstances,  he  hoped  they  would 
defer  the  death  of  the  prisoner  till  he  was  taken  to  De- 
troit, and  examined  by  the  commanding  general.  After 
which  he  could  be  brought  back,  and  if  thought  advisa- 
ble, upon  further  consideration,  he  might  be  put  to  death 
in  any  manner  they  thought  proper."  He  next  noticed, 
"  that  they  had  already  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  fatigue 
with  the  prisoner  without  being  revenged  upon  him ;  but 
that  they  had  got  back  all  the  horses  the  prisoner  had 
stolen  from  them,  and  killed  one  of  his  comrades  ;  and  to 
insure  them  something  for  their  fatigue  and  trouble,  he 
himself  would  give  one  hundred  dollars  in  rum  and  to- 
bacco, or  any  other  articles  they  would  choose,  if  they 
would  let  him  take  the  prisoner  to  Detroit,  to  be  exam- 
ined by  the  British  general."  The  Indians,  without  hes- 
itation, agreed  to  Captain  Druyer's  proposition,  and  he 
paid  down  the  ransom.  As  soon  as  these  arrangements 
were  concluded,  Druyer  and  a  principal  chief  set  off  with 
the  prisoner  for  Lower  Sandusky.  From  this  place  they 
proceeded  by  water  to  Detroit,  where  they  arrived  in  a 
few  days.  Here  the  prisoner  was  handed  over  to  the 
commanding  officer,  and  lodged  in  the  fort  as  a  prisoner 
of  war.  He  was  now  out  of  danger  from  the  Indians, 
and  was  treated  with  the  usual  attention  of  prisoners  of 
war  in  civilized  countries.  The  British  commander  gave 
the  Indians  some  additional  remuneration  for  the  life  of 
the  prisoner,  and  they  returned  satisfied  to  join  their 
countrymen  at  Wapatomika. 

Although  Kenton  was  still  a  prisoner,  he  was  now  in 
no  danger  from  the  faggot  or  the  tomahawk  ;  when  he  re- 
flected on  the  many  dangers  and  hair-breadth  escapes 
through  which  he  had  passed  in  such  rapid  succession, 
it  looked  to  him  like  some  terrible  dream,  which  made 
his  hair  stand  on  end.  He  was  taken  prisoner  about  the 


234  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

first  of  September,  and  arrived  at  Detroit  about  the  begin- 
ning of  November.  During  the  two  months  he  was  in 
possession  of  the  Indians,  his  life  was  in  perpetual  and 
imminent  danger,  and  consequently  his  mind  harassed 
with  incessant  suspense,  and  fluctuations  between  hope 
and  fear  ;  no  situation  could  be  more  appalling  or  dis- 
tressing to  the  human  heart.  Notwithstanding  the  cor- 
poreal abuses  and  privations  which  he  had  so  repeatedly 
to  experience,  together  with  the  anguish  of  mind,  insep- 
arable from  his  perilous  situation  as  to  life,  his  health  was 
uninterrupted  during  his  dangerous  and  severe  trials. 
From  the  sufferings  through  which  he  passed,  it  is  al- 
most miraculous  that  he  had  not  sunk  in  despair,  or  that 
the  privations  and  exposures  he  was  forced  to  undergo, 
had  not  brought  on  diseases  which  would  put  an  end  to 
his  miserable  existence ;  but  such  was  his  confidence  in 
the  protection  of  an  all-seeing  eye,  that  he  was  buoyed 
up  to  bear  the  sufferings  by  which  he  was  encompassed, 
with  resignation.  As  soon  as  his  mind  was  out  of  sus- 
pense and  at  ease,  his  robust  constitution  and  iron  frame 
enabled  his  body  to  recruit  in  a  few  days,  from  the  most 
trying  exposures  and  privations,  such  as  the  want  of 
sleep,  subsistence,  and  the  many  and  severe  flagellations 
which  he  had  so  repeatedly  to  undergo  during  his  painful 
captivity. 

The  next  day  after  Kenton  had  passed  into  the  pos- 
session of  the  British  at  Detroit,  the  commanding  officer 
sent  for  him  and  had  a  long  conference  with  him,  on  the 
subject  of  the  strength  and  number  of  the  inhabitants  in 
the  infant  settlements  of  Kentucky.  He  next  inquired 
of  the  prisoner  what  he  knew  of  the  strength,  and  de- 
signs of  the  movements  of  General  Mclntosh,  who,  it 
was  understood,  was  on  the  way,  or  preparing  to  invade 
the  Indian  country.  To  all  of  which  interrogatories, 
Kenton  gave  such  answers  as  a  patriot  might  be  expected 
to  give.  He  told  the  truth  where  the  truth  would  not 


GENERAL   SIMON   KENTON.  235 

injure  his  country ;  evaded  direct  answers  where  the  in- 
formation might  afford  advantage  to  the  enemy.  After 
the  British  commander  had  interrogated  him  as  long  as 
he  thought  proper,  he  dismissed  him,  and  gave  an  order 
on  a  Captain  McGregor,  the  commissary  of  clothing,  for 
two  suits  of  clothes,  which  were  furnished  forthwith. 
He  was  now  permitted  the  liberty  of  the  city  of  Detroit, 
but  was  charged  not  to  leave  the  town ;  if  he  did,  the  In- 
dians, in  all  probability,  would  kill  him.  Here  he  did 
some  work,  and  drew  half  rations  from  the  British,  and 
lived  pretty  much  at  his  ease ;  but  the  town  and  suburbs 
of  Detroit  were  too  confined  a  range  for  a  man  like  him, 
who  thought  the  valley  of  the  grand  Ohio  too  small  a 
theater  for  his  active,  enterprising  genius.  He  was  like 
the  bird  confined  in  a  cage,  always  longing  for  more 
space,  that  he  might  take  his  flight  east,  west,  north  or 
south.  Here  he  passed  the  winter  of  1778  and  '79. 
Early  in  the  spring  of  1779,  the  Indians  brought  to  De- 
troit several  prisoners  whom  they  had  taken  from  Ken- 
tucky. Amongst  them  were  some  of  Kenton's  old  asso- 
ciates. These  prisoners  had  also  the  liberty  of  the  town, 
and  Kenton  and  they  strolled  about  at  pleasure.  Among 
these  prisoners  were  Captain  Nathan  Bullit  and  Jesse 
Coffer.  With  these  two  men  Kenton  began  to  meditate 
an  escape.  They  had  frequent  conferences  on  the  sub- 
ject ;  but  the  enterprise  was  almost  too  appalling  for  even 
these  hardy,  enterprising  pioneers.  If  they  should  make 
this  bold  push,  they  would  have  to  travel  nearly  four 
hundred  miles  through  the  Indian  country,  where  they 
would  be  exposed  to  death  by  starvation,  by  flood,  by 
the  tomahawk,  or  to  capture,  almost  at  every  step.  But 
the  longer  they  brooded  over  the  enterprise  the  stronger 
their  resolutions  grew  to  make  the  attempt.  They  could 
make  no  movement  to  procure  arms,  ammunition,  or  pro- 
vision, without  exciting  suspicion ;  and  should  they  be 
once  suspected  they  would  be  immediately  confined.— 


236  A  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE    OF 

In  this  situation  they  could  only  brood  over  their  wished 
flight  in  secret  and  in  silence.  Kenton  was  a  fine  look- 
ing man,  with  a  dignified  and  manly  deportment,  and  a 
soft,  pleasing  voice,  and  was  everywhere  he  went  a  fa- 
vorite among  the  ladies.  A  Mrs.  Harvey,  the  wife  of  an 
Indian  trader,  had  treated  him  with  particular  respect 
ever  since  he  came  to  Detroit,  and  he  concluded  if  he 
could  engage  this  lady  as  a  confidant,  by  her  assistance 
and  countenance  ways  and  means  could  be  prepared  to 
aid  them  in  their  meditated  flight.  Kenton  approached 
Mrs.  Harvey  on  this  delicate  and  interesting  subject, 
with  as  much  trepidation  and  coyness  as  ever  maiden 
was  approached  in  a  love  affair.  The  great  difficulty 
with  Kenton  was  to  get  the  subject  opened  with  Mrs. 
Harvey.  If  she  should  reject  his  suit  and  betray  his  in- 
tentions, all  his  fond  hopes  would  be  at  once  blasted. 
However,  at  length  he  concluded  to  trust  this  lady  with 
the  scheme  of  his  meditated  flight,  and  the  part  he  wished 
her  to  act  for  him.  He  watched  an  opportunity  to  have  a 
private  interview  with  Mrs.  Harvey ;  an  opportunity  soon 
offered,  and  he,  without  disguise  or  hesitation,  in  full  confi- 
dence informed  her  of  his  intention,  and  requested  her  aid 
and  secrecy.  She  appeared  at  first  astonished  at  his  propo- 
sal, and  observed  that  it  was  not  in  her  power  to  afford 
him  any  aid.  Kenton  told  her  he  did  not  expect  or  wish 
her  to  be  at  any  expense  on  their  account — that  they  had 
a  little  money  for  which  they  had  labored,  and  that  they 
wished  her  to  be  their  agent  to  purchase  such  articles  as 
would  be  necessary  for  them  in  their  flight — that  if  they 
should  go  to  purchasing  it  would  create  suspicion,  but 
that  she  could  aid  them  in  this  way  without  creating  any 
suspicion ;  and  if  she  would  be  their  friend,  they  had  no 
doubt  they  could  effect  their  escape.  This  appeal  from 
such  a  fine  looking  man  as  Kenton,  was  irresistible. 
There  was  something  pleasing  in  being  the  selected  con- 
fidant of  such  a  man ;  and  the  lady,  though  a  little  coy  at 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  237 

first,  surrendered  at  discretion.  After  a  few  chit  chats, 
she  entered  into  the  views  of  Kenton  with  as  much 
earnestness  and  enthusiasm  as  if  she  had  been  his  sister. 
She  began  to  collect  and  conceal  such  articles  as  might 
be  necessary  in  the  journey  :  powder,  lead,  mocasons, 
and  dried  beef  were  procured  in  small  quantities,  and 
concealed  in  a  hollow  tree  some  distance  out  of  town. 
Guns  were  still  wanting,  and  it  would  not  do  for  a  lady 
to  trade  in  them.  Mr.  Harvey  had  an  excellent  fowling 
piece,  if  nothing  better  should  offer,  that  she  said  should 
be  at  their  service.  They  had  now  every  thing  that  they 
expected  to  take  with  them  in  their  flight  ready,  except 
guns.  At  length  the  third  day  of  June,  1779,  came,  and 
a  large  concourse  of  Indians  were  in  the  town  engaged 
in  a  drunken  frolic ;  they  had  stacked  their  guns  near 
Mrs.  Harvey's  house  ;  as  soon  as  it  was  dark,  Mrs.  Har- 
vey went  quietly  to  where  the  Indians'  guns  were  stack- 
ed, and  selected  the  three  best  looking  rifles,  carried  them 
into  her  garden,  and  concealed  them  in  a  patch  of  peas. 
She  next  went  privately  to  Kenton's  lodging,  and  con- 
veyed to  him  the  intelligence  where  she.  had  hid  the  In- 
dians' guns. — She  told  him  she  would  place  a  ladder  at 
the  back  of  the  garden  (it  was  picketed,)  and  that  he 
could  come  in  and  get  the  guns.  No  time  was  to  be 
lost ;  Kenton  conveyed  the  good  Hews  he  had  from  Mrs. 
Harvey  to  his  companions,  who  received  the  tidings  in 
ecstacies  of  joy ;  they  felt  as  if  they  were  already  at 
home.  It  was  a  dark  night ;  Kenton,  Bullit  and  Coffer 
gathered  up  their  little  all  and  pushed  to  Mrs.  Harvey's 
garden.  There  they  found  the  ladder ;  Kenton  mounted 
over,  drew  the  ladder  over  after  him,  went  to  the  pea- 
patch,  found  Mrs.  Harvey  sitting  by  the  guns  ;  she  hand- 
ed him  the  rifles,  gave  him  a  friendly  shake  of  the  hand 
and  bid  him  a  safe  journey  to  his  friends  and  country- 
men. She  appeared  to  Kenton  and  his  comrades  as  an 
angel.  When  a  woman  engages  to  do  an  action,  she 


238  A  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

will  risk  limb,  life,  or  character  to  serve  those  whom  she 
respects  or  wishes  to  befriend.  How  differently  the  same 
action  will  be  viewed  by  different  persons  :  by  Kenton 
and  his  friends  her  conduct  was  viewed  as  the  benevo- 
lent action  of  a  good  angel ;  while  if  the  part  she  played 
in  behalf  of  Kenton  and  his  companions  had  been  known 
to  the  commander  at  Detroit,  she  would  have  been  look- 
ed upon  as  a  traitress,  who  merited  the  scorn  and  con- 
tempt of  all  honest  citizens.  This  night  was  the  last 
time  that  Kenton  ever  saw  or  heard  of  her. 

A  few  days  before  Kenton  left  Detroit,  he  had  a  con- 
versation with  an  Indian  trader,  a  Scotchman,  by  the 
name  of  McKinzie,  who  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
geography  of  the  country,  and  range  of  the  Indians,  be- 
tween the  lakes  and  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi.  The 
Scotchman  slyly  observed  to  Kenton,  that  if  he  was  go- 
ing to  Kentucky,  and  did  not  wish  to  meet  with  the  In- 
dians, he  would  steer  more  west  than  the  common  route, 
and  get  into  Wabash  prairies  as  soon  as  possible.  Ken- 
ton  did  not  know  what  to  think  of  the  remarks  of  the 
Scotchman.  He  began  to  think  that  perhaps  Mrs.  Har- 
vey had  divulged  his  secret  to  this  man,  and  that  he  was 
pumping  Kenton  ;  or  probably  he  wished  to  aid  him,  and 
this  was  offering  friendly  advice.  As  no  more  was  said, 
he  did  not  pretend  to  notice  what  the  Scotchman  said,  but 
treasured  the  remarks  in  his  mind. 

As  soon  as  Kenton  and  companions  took  their  leave 
of  their  friend  and  benafactress,  Mrs.  Harvey,  they  made 
their  way  to  the  little  store  in  the  hollow  tree,  bundled 
up,  and  pushed  for  the  wood,  and  steered  a  more  west- 
erly, than  the  direct  course  to  Kentucky.  They  had  no 
doubt  but  every  effort  would  be  made  to  retake  them ; 
they  were,  consequently,  very  circumspect  and  cautious 
in  leaving  as  few  traces,  by  which  they  might  be  discov- 
ered, as  possible.  They  went  on  slowly,  traveling  most- 
ly in  the  night,  steering  their  course  by  the  cluster,  call- 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  239 

cd  the  seven  stars,  till  they  reached  the  prairie  country, 
on  the  Wabash.  In  this  time,  though  they  had  been 
very  sparing  of  their  stock  of  provision,  it  was  now  ex- 
hausted, and  their  lives  depended  on  their  guns.  In 
these  large  prairies  there  was  but  little  game,  and  they 
were  days  without  provision.  They,  like  the  Hebrews 
of  old,  began  to  wish  themselves  again  with  the  flesh 
pots  at  Detroit.  One  day  as  they  were  passing  down 
the  Wabash,  they  were  just  emerging  out  of  a  thicket  of 
brush-wood,  when  an  Indian  encampment  suddenly  pre- 
sented itself  to  their  view,  and  not  more  than  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  or  two  hundred  yards  from  them.  No 
ghastly  visit  could  have  set  their  hair  on  end  sooner. 
They  immediately  dodged  back  into  the  thicket,  and  con- 
cealed themselves  till  night.  They  were  now  almost  ex- 
hausted with  fatigue  and  hunger — they  could  only  travel 
a  few  miles  in  a  day.  They  lay  still  in  the  thicket,  con- 
sulting with  each  other  the  most  proper  measures  to  pur- 
sue in  this  their  precarious  situation.  Bullit  and  Coffer 
thought  the  best  plan  to  save  their  lives,  would  be  volun- 
tarily to  surrender  themselves  to  the  Indians.  The  In- 
dians who  had  taken  them  had  not  treated  them  so  rough- 
ly as  Kenton  had  been  handled.  Kenton  wished  to  lay 
still  till  night,  and  make  as  little  sign  as  possible,  and  as 
soon  as  it  was  dark  they  would  push  ahead,  and  trust  the 
event  to  Providence.  After  considerable  debate,  Ken- 
ton's  plan  was  adopted.  As  soon  as  it  was  dark  they 
made  their  way  farther  from  the  river,  into  those  large 
prairies.  They  kept  a  slow  and  painful  jog  till  morning. 
In  the  morning  they  made  for  a  piece  of  timber  land, 
which  was  not  a  great  distance  from  them.  Kenton  was 
a  small  distance  in  advance.  As  they  entered  the  wood 
a  fine  red  buck  presented  itself  close  to  him.  Kenton 
took  deliberate  aim — his  rifle  fired  clear,  and  down  fell 
the  buck.  They  immediately  made  a  fire  and  went  to 
cooking ;  and  never  did  food  eat  more  delicious.  How 


240  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

little  do  the  men  of  the  present  age,  who  live  sumptuous- 
ly every  day,  sympathize  with  the  sufferings  of  the  war- 
worn, weather-beaten  pioneers,  who  braved  death  and 
misery  in  every  form  which  can  be  imagined — want,  fa- 
tigue, starvation,  exposure  in  the  night,  exposure  to  the 
heat  and  the  cold ;  added  to  these,  the  exposure  to  the 
wily  Indian  by  day  and  by  night.  All  these  difficulties 
and  privations  were  cheerfully  met  by  a  set  of  men  who 
thought  but  little  of  wealth,  their  whole  object  appeared 
to  be  either  prompted  by  patriotism  or  love  of  danger. 
The  small  remnant  of  these  weather-beaten  woodsmen, 
who  are  still  amongst  us,  are  generally  poor,  and  treated 
with  rifeglect  by  their  more  polished  and  fortunate  suc- 
cessors. Notwithstanding  that  Kenton  and  his  party 
were  now  in  the  neighborhood  of  an  Indian  encampment, 
they  remained  at  their  fire  till  they  roasted  the  greatest 
part  of  their  buck.  After  their  feast  was  over,  they  again 
took  up  their  slow,  weary,  and  toilsome  march.  They 
made  the  best  of  their  way  to  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  and 
arrived  there  after  a  painful  and  tedious  march  of  thirty- 
three  days,  from  the  time  they  left  Detroit.  Here  Ken- 
ton  remained  a  few  days  with  his  old  companions.  This 
was  in  the  month  of  July,  1779.  It  required  only  a  few 
days  of  plentiful  living,  when  his  mind  was  free  from  sus- 
pense, to  recruit  both  his  body  and  mind.  The  account  of 
the  captivity  and  release  of  our  hero  is  now  related.  It 
might  naturally  be  expected  that  after  his  narrow  and 
providential  escapes,  severe  trials,  and  his  long  and  pain- 
ful march  for  freedom,  and  to  again  enjoy  the  pleasure  of 
the  company  of  his  countrymen,  that  he  would  take  some 
repose ;  but  not  so :  danger  and  fame  were  the  food 
which  afforded  him  most  enjoyment.  The  many  dan- 
gers, trials,  and  hair-breadth  escapes,  through  which  he 
had  passed,  only  whetted  his  appetite  to  engage  in  more 
perils.  As  soon  as  his  health  and  strength  were  recruit- 
ed he  began  to  cast  his  active  mind  about  for  further  ad- 


GENERAL    SIMON    KEXTON.  241 

venture.  The  indolence  of  a  stationary  life  became  irk- 
some to  our  bold  adventurer.  It  was  in  the  clangor 
of  arms,  and  in  the  din  of  battle,  that  he  appeared  at 
home. 

It  will  be  recollected  that  in  the  spring  of  the  prece- 
ding year,  1778,  he  went  with  Gen.  Clark  to  the  Mis- 
sissippi, and  aided  in  capturing  Ocho,  or  Kaskaskia ;  that 
Gen.  Clark  sent  him  with  dispatches  to  Kentucky  ;  that 
on  his  way  he  had  reconnoitered  Post  Vincent,  and  sent 
one  of  his  comrades  back  to  inform  Gen.  Clark  of  the 
weak  situation,  and  careless  manner  in  which  Post  Vin- 
cent was  guarded  by  the  enemy.  As  soon  as  Kenton's 
messenger  arrived  at  Kaskaskia  with  this  intelligence, 
Gen.  Clark  moved  a  detachment  from  Illinois,  across  the 
grand  prairie,  and  took  Post  Vincent  by  surprise,  as 
cheap  as  he  had  before  taken  the  Ocho  station.  Gen. 
Clark  still  remained  at  Post  Vincent  in  1779,  when  Ken- 
ton  had  made  his  escape  from  captivity.  After  loitering 
about  the  falls  of  Ohio  some  time,  he  concluded  he  would 
now  push  for  Vincennes,  and  join  his  old  companion  in 
arms,  Gen.  Clark.  There  was  then  neither  settlement 
nor  house  between  the  falls  of  Ohio  and  Vincennes  ;  but 
that  did  not  deter,  it  rather  invited  him  to  the  enterprise. 
Our  wandering  hero  went  to  Vincennes  without  meeting 
any  adventure  worth  relating.  As  there  was  no  prospect 
of  immediate  skirmishes  or  battles  on  the  Wabash,  the 
times  appeared  too  dull  for  him  to  remain  long  in  "  in- 
glorious ease."  He  shouldered  his  rifle,  came  back  to 
the  falls  of  Ohio,  and  then  to  Harrod's  station,  on  the 
Kentucky  river.  The  winter,  1779-80,  passed  off  with- 
out any  particular  occurrence  to  our  hero  worth  notice. 
*  *  *  I  will  now  notice  occurrences  which  took 
place  in  Kentucky  in  1779,  while  Kenton  was  in  captiv- 
ity. During  this  year  a  number  of  new  settlements  were 
formed.  Some  settlements  were  made  on  Bear  Grass, 
near  the  falls  of  the  Ohio.  Bashear's  and  Martin's  sta- 


242  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

tions  were  settled.  McLelland's,  Riddle's,  and  Hink- 
ston's  stations  were  again  occupied ;  and  every  prospect 
appeared  favorable  for  the  speedy  filling  up  of  the  coun- 
try with  inhabitants. 

How  deceitful  are  appearances  in  times  of  war !  What 
short  sighted  beings  we  are  !  We  cannot  know  what  a 
day  may  bring  forth  !  Although  in  the  summer  and  fall 
of  1779,  every  thing  appeared  favorable  to  the  views  of 
the  inhabitants  of  the  infant  settlement  of  Kentucky,  the 
spring  of  1780  ushered  forth  in  melancholy  forebodings 
of  the  future.  The  Kentuckians  were  then  isolated  in 
the  wilderness,  some  hundred  of  miles  from  where  any 
friendly  aid  could  be  procured  to  relieve  in  their  distress. 
Under  these  circumstances  they  had  to  rely  principally 
upon  their  own  energies  for  defence.  At  this  time  a 
large  British  and  Indian  force  invaded  Kentucky.  The 
enemy  were  well  equipped  for  war,  having  with  them 
several  pieces  of  artillery  from  Detroit.  They  brought 
their  artillery  and  munitions  of  war,  by  water  from  De- 
troit, up  the  Maumee,  and  thence  by  land  to  Big  Miami ; 
down  the  Miami  to  the  Ohio ;  up  the  Ohio  to  the  mouth 
of  Licking,  and  up  Licking  to  the  forks.  From  thence 
they  proceeded  by  land;  and  simultaneously  invested 
Martin's  and  Riddle's  stations.  As  these  stations  had 
only  for  defence  log  block-houses  and  pickets,  resistance 
against  artillery  would  be  a  useless  risk  and  waste  of  life, 
the  inhabitants  capitulated,  and  surrendered  themselves 
prisoners  of  war.  When  this  disaster  took  place,  Ken- 
ton  was  at  Harrod's  station.  The  news  soon  spread 
from  station  to  station.  Kenton  was  ever  on  the  alert ;  went 
in  company  with  Charles  Gatiffs,  and  cautiously  follow- 
ed the  Indian  trail,  to  ascertain  the  direction  which  the 
enemy  had  taken,  and  their  probable  future  movements. 
They  found  the  enemy  encamped  at  the  forks  of  Licking 
river.  Here  they  hovered  about  them  for  a  day  or  two, 
when  the  Indians  broke  up  the  camp,  and  proceeded  down 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  243 

the  river  to  the  Ohio.  What  urged  them  to  move  off 
without  delay,  was,  the  Licking  river  was  falling  very 
fast,  and  should  they  delay  much  longer  they  would  not 
be  able  to  take  their  artillery  by  water ;  and  if  they  should 
be  pursued  and  beaten  they  would  lose  the  effect  of  their 
successful  enterprise.  As  soon  as  the  Indians  commenc- 
ed their  retrograde  movements  from  the  forks  of  Licking, 
Kenton  returned  to  Harrod's  station.  As  soon  as  Gen. 
Clark,  who  was  still  at  Post  Vincent,  heard  of  the  disas- 
ter which  had  taken  place  in  Kentucky,  he  returned  to 
the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  with  all  the  force  that  could  be  safe- 
ly spared ;  thence  he  proceeded  to  Harrod's  station,  to 
consult  on  ways  and  means  to  be  revenged  on  their  ene- 
mies. An  expedition  being  determined  on  against  the 
enemy,  all  who  were  able  to  bear  arms  were  called  upon. 
The  mouth  of  Licking  was  appointed  the  place  of  gene- 
ral rendezvous.  Kenton  was  appointed  a  captain,  and 
commanded  an  active  and  numerous  company  of  volun- 
teers from  Harrod's  station.  At  the  mouth  of  Licking 
river,  was  now  concentrated  Kentucky's  united  strength, 
amounting  to  about  eleven  hundred  men,  commanded  by 
Gen.  Clark,  a  man  of  intrepidity  and  talents  ;  who  was 
seconded  and  aided  by  numerous  spirits,  no  way  inferior 
to  himself.  They  had  with  them  one  brass  twelve 
pounder,  which  the  state  of  Virginia  had  sent  to  the  falls 
of  Ohio.  The  provisions  furnished  at  the  expense  of 
the  public,  was  three  quarts  of  corn  to  the  man.  In  ad- 
dition to  this,  each  man  brought  with  him  as  much  dry 
jirk  as  he  could  conveniently  carry.  Thus  scantily  sup- 
plied, this  intrepid  band  commenced  their  march.  The 
object  of  this  grand  expedition,  was  the  destruction  of 
the  Chillicothe  town,  on  the  Little  Miami.  Although 
Kenton  was  now  a  captain  of  a  company,  as  he  had  been 
several  times  at  Chillicothe  town,  he  was  selected  as  the 
pilot  to  direct  their  march.  This  army  went  through  the 
unbroken  wilderness,  with  Kenton  for  their  guide ;  made 


244  A  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE    OF 

their  own  roads,  and  moved  rapidly  for  the  Indian  towns, 
in  order  to  take  them  by  surprise  if  possible,  and  not  to 
afford  the  enemy  time  to  concentrate  all  their  force  at  any 
one  point.  When  the  army  arrived  at  the  Chillicothe 
town,  the  Indians  had  just  left  the  place,  and  set  the  town 
on  fire.  The  Indians  had  retreated  to  the  Pickaway 
town,  and  were  collecting  their  force  as  fast  as  possible 
to  give  the  whites  battle.  Gen.  Clark  commenced  an 
immediate  pursuit.  When  he  arrived  at  the  Pickaway 
town,  he  found  the  Indians  embodied  and  prepared  for 
defence.  Gen.  Clark  immediately  made  the  necessary 
arrangements,  and  the  battle  commenced.  The  Indians 
fought  like  furies,  but  being  overpowered  by  numbers, 
were  compelled  to  leave  the  field  of  battle,  with  their  dead 
and  wounded  to  the  whites.  The  whites  destroyed  sev- 
eral of  their  towns  without  meeting  any  further  resist- 
ance. A  vast  quantity  of  corn  and  other  vegetables  were 
consumed,  and  otherwise  destroyed.  This  was  a  severe 
blow  on  the  Indians.  It  was  the  first  visit  the  Kentuck- 
ians  had  paid  the  Indians  in  mass.  The  northwestern 
Indians  were  as  brave  and  full  of  prowess,  and  skilled  in 
stratagem,  as  any  men  that  ever  lived.  The  Kentuckians 
were  only  their  equals. 

Gen.  Clark  remained  at  Pickaway  town  three  days, 
destroying  every  thing  that  could  be  found  which  might 
render  either  aid  or  comfort  to  the  Indians.  In  this  work 
of  destruction,  Kenton's  knowledge  of  the  situation  of 
this  part  of  the  Indian  country  was  of  immense  service. 
Let  it  be  recollected,  that  while  he  was  a  prisoner,  he 
rode  with  Girty  to  nearly  all  the  Indian  towns  on  the 
Miamies  and  head  of  the  Scioto.  The  army  returned  to 
the  Ohio  opposite  to  the  mouth  of  Licking,  now  the  city 
of  Cincinnati,  and  there  disbanded,  and  every  man  re- 
turned to  his  home,  without  the  formality  of  a  written 
discharge.  There  was  no  muster-roll.  No  pay  receiv- 
ed or  expected.  Every  man  fought  for  himself.  This 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  245 

was  a  real  democratic  army,  where  every  man  went  when 
he  pleased,  staid  as  long  as  he  pleased,  and  returned  when 
he  pleased;  but  wo  to  the  man  who  dodged  in  time  of 
danger. 

From  the  mouth  of  Licking,  Kenton  returned  to  Boon's 
station,  and  went  occasionally  to  Logan's  aad  Harrod's, 
sometimes  acting  as  a  spy  or  ranger,  and  sometimes  on 
hunting  excursions,  and  sometimes  attending  with  loca- 
ters  and  surveyors  to  land  business.  In  this  way  he 
passed  off  his  time  till  the  fall  of  the  year  1782.  During 
all  this  time  his  days  and  nights  were  passed  in  tedious 
sameness,  without  being  once  enlivened  by  the  thrilling 
animation  of  an  Indian  fight.  Such  is  the  force  of  habit, 
that  the  dull  pursuits  of  civil  life  soon  become  irksome  to 
the  soldier. 

About  this  time  he  first  heard  from  his  parents.  His 
parents  or  friends  could  not  hear  from  him,  as  he  had 
changed  his  name,  and  till  now  had  been  known  by  the 
name  of  Simon  Butler.  He  now  for  the  first  time  learn- 
ed that  he  had  not  killed  Veach  !  that  Veach  had  recover- 
ed and  was  still  living.  He  now  for  the  first  time  since 
he  came  to  Kentucky  assumed  his  proper  name. 

In  the  fall  of  the  year  1782,  the  Kentuckians  deter- 
mined on  paying  the  Indians  another  visit,  and  endeavor 
to  overwhelm  them  in  destruction  their  troublesome 
neighbors.  For  this  purpose,  George  R.  Clark  was 
again  appointed,  by  general  consent,  commander  of  their 
forces.  When  we  take  a  retrospect  of  the  intrepidity 
and  fortitude  of  those  pioneer  fathers  of  the  west,  we  are 
almost  lost  in  astonishment  at  the  daring  achievements, 
and  the  discouraging  difficulties  which  they  so  nobly 
overcame.  When  we  see  them  collecting  and  forming 
themselves  into  armies,  traversing  large  tracts  of  country 
without  roads  ;  no  friendly  garrison  to  retreat  to  in  case 
of  disaster ;  with  no  other  subsistence  but  what  every 
man  furnished  himself  with ;  where  every  man  found 

18 


246  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

his  own  arras,  ammunition,  tents,  and  baggage,  without 
any  of  the  equipments  which  constitute  the  strength  of 
armies,  we  are  lost  in  wonder  at  the  fortitude  and  resolu- 
tion of  those  men,  that  did  not  quail  or  fall  into  despair 
at  the  appalling  dangers  and  difficulties  by  which  they 
were  encompassed. 

(1782.)  The  mouth  of  Licking  was  again  appointed 
the  place  of  rendezvous.  On  this  expedition  Kenton 
again  commanded  a  company,  and  was  looked  upon  by 
both  officers  and  privates  as  one  of  the  pillars  of  their 
force.  His  knowledge  of  the  country  intended  to  be  in- 
vaded, his  cautious  yet  fearless  courage,  his  tact  and  in- 
vention for  forming  stratagem,  for  ambuscading  the  ene- 
my, rendered  him  popular  with  these  pioneers.  These 
hardy  soldiers  would  hesitate  to  obey  or  execute  any  plan 
or  order,  which  did  not  meet  the  approbation  of  Simon 
Kenton.  The  troops  having  arrived  on  the  ground  where 
Cincinnati  now  stands,  they  immediately  prepared  for  an 
expeditious  march.  Their  number  was  about  fifteen 
hundred  men.  They  directed  their  march  for  the  Indian 
towns  on  the  Great  Miami.  So  sudden  and  secret  was 
the  expedition,  that  they  fell  upon  the  first  Indian  town 
without  being  discovered  previous  to  the  attack.  In  this 
town  a  large  number  of  Indians  were  killed,  and  between 
thirty  and  forty  made  prisoners.  The  alarm  being  given, 
the  Indians  deserted  their  other  villages  and  fled  to  the 
woods.  The  whites  without  further  resistance,  burnt 
their  towns,  destroyed  their  corn,  with  every  other  thing 
that  fell  in  their  way,  that  could  render  the  Indians  aid 
or  comfort.  The  army  then  returned  to  the  Ohio,  oppo- 
site the  mouth  of  Licking,  where  they  disbanded.  On 
the  morning  that  the  troops  disbanded  themselves,  Col. 
Floyd,  from  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  made  a  proposition  to 
the  army :  that  all  of  them  who  should  be  living  fifty 
years  hence,  should  meet  at  that  place,  and  talk  over  the 
affairs  of  the  campaign,  and  of  the  various  improvements 


GENERAL   SIMON   KENTON.  247 

which  might  by  that  time  take  place  in  the  country. 
This  resolution  was  adopted  with  shouts  of  acclamation. 
There  was  something  grand  and  sublime  in  the  proposal ; 
and  Col.  Floyd  must  have  had  correct  notions  of  the 
probable  population  which  might  by  that  time  be  in  quiet, 
peaceable  possession  of  this,  then,  western  wilderness. 
He  must  have  observed,  too,  the  probability  of  a  large 
city  growing  up  at,  or  opposite  the  mouth  of  Licking, 
and  the  many  advantages  that  this  site  possessed,  from  its 
contiguity  to  several  rivers,  together  with  the  fine  coun- 
try by  which  it  was  surrounded.  The  revolutionary  war 
was  about  this  time  ended ;  the  colonies  were  acknowl- 
edged sovereign,  independent  states,  and  the  prospects  of 
a  happy  and  long  peace,  was,  as  they  believed,  dawning 
upon  them.  The  Indians  were  the  only  enemies  with 
whom  they  had  to  contend ;  and  as  they  had,  unaided 
kept  them  in  check,  they  hoped  now,  that  as  their  breth- 
ren of  the  Atlantic  states  were  relieved  from  the  horrors 
of  war,  that  they  might  count  upon  receiving  a  helping 
hand  from  their  fellow  citizens  east  of  the  mountains. 
They  had  some  doleful  feelings,  too,  about  the  small 
remnant  of  them  who  should  probably  be  alive  when  the 
fifty  years  should  expire.  Although  the  settlements  of 
Kentucky  went  on  rapidly,  they  continued  to  be  harass- 
ed by  Indian  wars  much  longer  than  was  anticipated  by 
any.  Col.  Floyd,  who  brought  forward  the  resolution 
for  the  fifty  years'  meeting,  was  killed  by  the  Indians  on 
Bear  Grass,  near  the  falls  of  the  Ohio,  a  few  years  after- 
wards. As  the  fifty  years  would  expire  on  or  about  the 
10th  day  of  November,  1832,  intense  were  the  feelings 
of  the  few  remaining  of  those  hardy  men,  as  the  time  of 
the  meeting  approached.  When  the  fifty  years  were 
about  expiring,  almost  all  the  western  newspapers  gave 
notice  of  the  expected  meeting.  It  would  have  been  a 
scene  which  men  indeed  would  gaze  and  wonder  at  with 
awe  and  astonishment.  To  see  and  converse  with  the 


248  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

weather-beaten  pioneers  who  had  marched  in  the  front  of 
war  fifty  years  before,  would  have  excited  sensations  that 
the  pen  is  unable  to  describe.  The  imagination  can  only 
picture  to  itself  some  pleasant,  gloomy,  scene,  in  which 
the  ghosts  of  some  long-gone-by  generation  were  called 
upon  to  act  a  part,  in  the  presence  of  living  men.  At  the 
time  of  the  proposed  fifty  years'  meeting,  a  goodly  num- 
ber of  those  ancient  heroes  were  still  remaining  upon  the 
stage  of  action.  Amongst  others,  Simon  Kenton.  He 
was  as  anxious  for  the  meeting  as  ever  a  bridegroom  was 
for  the  wedding  night.  It  was  his  day  and  night  dream. 
The  ways  of  Providence  are  inscrutable.  When  the  10th 
of  November,  1832,  came,  Cinninnaii  and  the  whole 
surrounding  country  was  covered  in  gloom.  The  dread- 
ed cholera  had  made  its  appearance,  and  thousands  werr 
falling  before  its  awful  and  pestilential  strides.  This  aw 
ful  visitation  postponed  the  fifty-years'  meeting  forever. 
To  return  to  the  narrative  :  When  the  army  was  dis 
banded,  Kenton  returned  to  Harrod's  station,  and  attend 
ed  to  his  private  concerns.  He  had  by  this  time  acquirec 
some  valuable  tracts  of  land,  and  as  the  country  was  rap 
idly  filling  up  with  inhabitants,  he  concluded  that  he  too 
would  make  a  settlement.  For  this  purpose,  he  selected 
a  fertile  spot  of  land  on  Salt  river.  During  the  winter 
and  spring  of  1782  and  '83,  a  few  families  joined  him, 
reared  up  some  block-houses,  surrounded  with  pickets  for 
defence,  cleared  some  land,  and  planted  corn.  The  woods 
furnished  them  with  an  abundant  supply  of  meat,  and 
he  went  on  for  the  present,  improving  his  estate,  without 
interruption  from  the  Indians.  After  having  laid  by  his 
corn,  he  concluded  to  visit  his  father,  mother,  brothers, 
and  sisters,  who  still  remained  in  his  native  land,  Vir- 
ginia. He  had  now  been  absent  nearly  thirteen  years, 
the  greater  part  of  which  time  was  passed  in  perils,  pri- 
vatious,  and  sufferings,  almost  too  great  for  human  nature 


GENERAL   SIMON   KENTON.  249 

to  survive ;  but  his  iron  frame,  and  unyielding  disposi- 
tion, bore  him  through  his  difficulties  in  triumph. 

When  he  returned  to  the  home  of  his  childhood,  he 
had  the  exquisite  satisfaction  to  find  his  father  and  all  his 
family  living.  This  meeting  had  something  in  it  like  the 
meeting  df  the  old  patriarch  Jacob  with  his  son  Joseph, 
except  that  Kenton  showed  himself  the  most  dutiful  and 
filial  son  of  the  two,  as  he  went,  whilst  Joseph  sent  for 
his  father's  family.  Kenton  now  associated  with  the 
friends  of  his  childhood.  This  was  to  him  a  real  mental 
feast,  as  his  soul  was  a  storehouse  of  friendship  and  sym- 
pathy. Those  whom  he  had  left  children  thirteen  years 
before,  were  now  the  active  business  men  and  women  of 
the  country.  As  he  passed  through  the  country,  some 
hill  or  hollow,  some  tree  or  rivulet,  would  recall  to  his 
mind  some  fun  or  freakish  event  of  his  childhood  or  youth. 
He  visited  his  old  friend  Veach,  whom  he  thought  he  had 
killed.  They  mutually  forgave  each  other,  and  buried 
the  tomahawk,  and  smoked  the  pipe  of  peace. 

Simon  Kenton  described  to  his  father  and  family,  the 
fertility  and  the  advantages  of  the  new  country  of  Ken- 
tucky, in  such  glowing  colors,  that  the  whole  family 
agreed  to  accompany  him  to  Kentucky.  The  whole 
tribe  set  off;  their  baggage  was  placed  on  a  few  pack- 
horses,  and  moved  to  Redstone  fort  (now  Brownsville). 
Here  they  made  what  was  called  a  Kentucky  boat.  While 
engaged  in  constructing  their  boat,  his  father  sickened  and 
died,  and  was  buried  on  the  bank  of  the  Monongahela. 
No  stone  or  marble  points  to  the  place  where  lie  the  bones 
of  the  father  of  the  celebrated  Simon  Kenton.  Their 
boat  was  soon  finished ;  and  men,  women  and  children, 
together  with  the  little  stock  of  animals,  were  crowded 
on  board,  and  they  floated  down  the  stream  to  the  falls 
of  the  Ohio.  By  this  time  winter  was  setting  in.  From  the 
falls  they  made  their  way  to  Kenton's  station,  on  Salt 
river,  where  they  found  themselves  at  the  end  of  their 


250  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

wearisome  journey.  Here  Kenton  remained  till  July, 
1784.  Nothing  took  place  worth  noticing.  Peace  ap- 
peared to  bless  the  country,  and  immigrants  came  pouring 
in.  From  the  falls  of  the  Ohio  up  Bear  Grass,  on  Salt  river, 
on  Kentucky  river  up  to  Boon's  and  Logan's  stations,  on 
Elkhorn,  and  through  the  country,  as  far  as  the  neighbor- 
hood of.  where  Paris  now  stands,  was  checkered  with 
stations. 

It  will  be  recollected  by  the  reader,  that  Kenton  and 
Thomas  Williams  had  cleared  and  planted  a  small  piece 
of  ground  near  Maysville,  in  1777,  and  from  this  place 
they  went  and  joined  Col.  Boon  and  his  friends  on  the 
Kentucky  river.  In  July,  1784,  Kenton  once  more  col- 
lected a  party  of  adventurers,  and  went  to  his  old  camp 
near  Limestone,  now  Maysville.  The  Indians  were  then 
spread  over  that  part  of  the  country.  Kenton  and  his 
party  thought  it  too  dangerous  to  remain  here,  and  they 
returned  again  to  his  station  on  Salt  river.  In  the  fall  of 
this  year,  1784,  he  returned  to  his  old  camp  near  Lime- 
stone ;  built  some  block-houses  ;  and,  in  the  course  of  the 
winter  1784-5,  many  families  joined  them.  This  station 
was  erected  about  three  miles  from  Limestone,  and  one 
mile  from  where  Washington,  in  Mason  county,  now 
stands.  This  was  the  first  permanent  settlement  made 
on  the  northeast  side  of  Licking  river.  As  the  Indians 
made  no  disturbance  this  winter,  many  new  settlements 
were  commenced  in  Mason  county,  in  the  following 
spring.  Limestone,  now  Maysville,  was  settled  by  old 
Ned  Waller.  Lee's,  Warren's,  and  Clark's  stations  were 
made;  and  new  comers  were  constantly  pouring  in. 
During  the  whole  of  the  year  1785,  no  interruption  was 
given  by  the  Indians  to  this  infant  settlement.  The  chas- 
tisement given  them  on  the  late  expedition  by  General 
Clark,  had  in  some  measure  broken  their  spirits. 

1786.  The  country  round  Kenton's  station  continued 
to  receive  a  throng  of  emigrants :  numerous  new  stations 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  251 

were  made,  and  Limestone  (Maysville)  became  one  of 
the  principal  landing  places.  This  year  Kenton  sold,  or 
rather  gave,  Arthur  Fox  and  William  Wood,  one  thou- 
sand acres  of  land,  on  which  they  laid  out  the  present 
town  of  Washington,  which  town  soon  received  a  great 
number  of  inhabitants.  Although  the  Indians  stole,  occa- 
sionally, some  horses  from  this  infant  settlement,  yet  they 
did  nothing  serious  enough  to  check  the  growth  of  the 
country. 

As  it  was  supposed  that  they  were  the  Indians  from 
Mochacheek  and  Pickaway,  who  had  been  stealing  their 
horses,  an  expedition  was  resolved  upon  to  chastise  them. 
The  inhabitants  from  all  the  stations  sent  on  a  good  many 
men,  and  the  new  town  of  Washington  was  appointed 
the  place  of  rendezvous.  Col.  Logan  had  the  chief  com- 
mand. The  detachment  consisted  of  about  700  men, 
armed  and  equipped  at  their  own  expense,  as  usual. 
They  crossed  the  Ohio  at  Limestone.  Kenton  com- 
manded a  fine  company,  and  was  the  pilot  to  direct  their 
march.  So  secret  and  expeditious  were  their  move- 
ments, that  they  arrived  at  the  Indian  towns  without  be- 
ing discovered.  These  towns  were  about  a  mile  from 
each  other.  The  whites  were  divided  into  two  columns, 
and  attacked  both  towns  about  the  same  time.  A  num- 
ber of  Indians  were  killed,  and  a  number  of  prisoners 
made.  Their  wigwams  and  other  property  were  des- 
troyed. As  some  of  the  Indians  escaped,  the  alarm  was 
given  to  the  other  towns,  and  the  Indians  made  for  the 
woods.  This  little  army  marched  through  the  Indian 
country  without  further  resistance  ;  they  burnt  four  other 
towns,  destroyed  their  corn  and  every  thing  which  might 
render  the  Indians  aid  or  comfort.  On  this  expedition, 
which  had  done  the  enemy  a  great  deal  of  harm,  they 
lost  about  ten  men. 

1787.  This  year  the  Indians  kept  the  inhabitants 
around  Kenton's  station  in  perpetual  alarm,  with  their 


252  A   SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE   OF 

predatory  incursions ;  sometimes  stealing  horses,  at  other 
times  killing  some  of  the  inhabitants.  As  Kenton's  settle- 
ment was  a  kind  of  outpost  for  the  settlements  around  Pa- 
ris and  Lexington,  the  people  of  the  latter  settlements  al- 
ways lent  them  a  helping  hand.  Kenton  sent  word  to  Col. 
Tod,  that  if  he  would  come  on  with  as  many  men  as  he 
could  bring  with  him,  that  he,  Kenton,  would  raise  what 
men  he  could,  and  that  with  their  joint  force,  they  could 
destroy  the  Indian  town  on  the  north  fork  of  Paint  creek, 
now  Oldtown,  then  Chillicothe.  This  detachment  ren- 
dezvoused in  Washington.  Col.  Tod  commanded.  They 
crossed  the  Ohio  at  Limestone.  Kenton,  as  usual,  com- 
manded a  company,  and  piloted  the  expedition  to  the. 
Chillicothe  town.  On  their  route  out,  about  five  miles 
south  of  Oldtown,  on  a  place  now  called  poplar-ridge,  the 
advance  guard,  commanded  by  Kenton,  met  four  Indians. 
Kenton  and  one  Helm  fired,  and  killed  two  of  the  Indians. 
The  other  two  were  taken  prisoners.  Had  either  of 
those  Indians  escaped,  the  Indians  in  the  town  and  coun- 
try would  have  been  alarmed  and  fled.  Kenton  was  now 
surrounded  by  a  set  of  young  men  of  his  own  training, 
and  fearful  was  the  doom  of  enemies  of  equal  numbers 
who  came  in  their  way.  From  the  two  prisoners  they 
had  taken,  they  learnt  that  there  was  a  large  Indian  en- 
campment between  them  and  old  Chillicothe,  about  three 
miles  from  the  latter  place.  On  this  intelligence  the 
army  was  halted  on  poplar-ridge,  and  Kenton  and  his 
company  went  forward,  to  reconnoiter  the  situation  of 
the  enemy.  Kenton  proceeded  near  the  Indian  camp, 
lay  by  till  night,  and  then  with  a  few  men  reconnoitered 
the  place,  and  made  himself  acquainted  with  the  situation 
of  the  enemy.  He  then  sent  an  express  to  Col.  Tod,  in- 
forming him  of  their  probable  number  and  situation.  Be- 
fore day  Maj.  Hinkston  came  on  and  joined  Kenton. 
Prompt  measures  were  immediately  taken.  The  Indian 
camp  was  surrounded.  The  whites  were  too  impatient 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  253 

for  delay ;  the  attack  was  made  before  it  was  light  enough. 
Two  Indians  only  were  killed,  and  seven  made  prisoners. 
Many  in  the  darkness  made  their  escape.  Col.  Tod, 
with  the  main  body  of  the  troops,  lingered  behind,  and 
did  not  reach  the  place  where  the  Indians  were  defeated, 
till  the  sun  was  at  least  two  hours  high  in  the  morning. 
The  Indians  who  escaped  from  camp,  alarmed  the  town. 
Their  men,  women,  and  children,  took  naked  to  the 
woods,  and  by  the  time  Col.  Tod  reached  the  town,  they 
had  all  fled.  The  town  was  consumed  to  ashes,  and  ev- 
ery thing  around  was  destroyed.  The  army  camped  on 
the  north  fork  of  Paint  creek  that  night,  and  next  day 
made  their  way  for  home,  without  the  loss  of  a  man  kill- 
ed or  wounded. 

1788.  The  settlements  continued  to  increase  around 
Kenton's  station,  although  the  Indians  continued  to  ha- 
rass them.  The  scouting  parties  of  the  whites  occasion- 
ally fell  in  with  straggling  parties  of  Indians,  .and  fre- 
quent skirmishes  ensued  during  the  year.  On  one  occa- 
sion the  Indians  came  near  Kenton's  station,  and  stole  a 
great  number  of  horses.  Kenton  raised  a  party  and  pur- 
sued them.  The  Indians  crossed  the  Ohio  near  the 
mouth  of  Locust.  Kenton  and  his  party  pursued  them 
with  unerring  tact,  and  the  speed  of  a  well  trained  pack 
of  hounds.  They  overtook  the  Indians  as  they  were 
preparing  to  camp  for  the  night.  As  Kenton  and  party 
lay  concealed  some  small  distance  from  the  camp,  one  of 
the  Indians  straggled  to  where  the  whites  were  concealed. 
The  Indian  was  shot.  The  whites  rushed  upon  the  In- 
dian camp,  but  a  gun  being  fired,  the  Indians  got  alarmed, 
and  took  to  the  woods  ;  and  it  being  the  dusk,  or  twilight 
of  the  evening,  the  rest  of  the  Indians  made  their  escape 
Kenton  recovered  all  the  horses,  and  some  of  their  guns, 
and  all  their  camp  equipage,  and  returned  in  triumph 
home. 

During  the  years  1789,  '90,  and  '91,  Kenton  was  not 


254  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

engaged  in  any  particular  scrape  worth  detailing.  He 
now  became  rich  in  land,  and  stock  of  every  kind ;  rear- 
ed up  near  Washington,  a  fine  brick  building,  upon  the 
site  where  his  block-house  had  formerly  stood  in  times 
of  peril.  His  hospitable  mansion  was  the  welcome  re- 
treat of  his  friends  and  relatives.  His  hospitality  was 
as  boundless  as  space — his  manners  easy  and  pleasing. 
All  his  visitors  (and  they  were  numerous)  felt  themselves 
perfectly  at  home  at  his  friendly  dwelling.  In  the  year 
1789,  the  writer  of  these  sketches  first  became  acquaint- 
ed with  Kenton  ;  and  although  young,  was  with  him  on 
many  excursions  after  Indians.  Notwithstanding  the 
many  difficulties  and  dangers  which  the  early  settlers  had 
to  encounter,  they,  in  the  general,  were  as  happy  and 
merry  people  as  ever  lived.  Their  times  of  security  and 
plenty  (they  sometimes  enjoyed  both)  was  a  real  feast 
of  body  and  mind. 

1792.  In  the  spring  of  this  year  the  Indians  were 
very  troublesome,  occasionally  killing  some  of  the  inhab- 
itants, and  stealing  their  horses.  In  April  a  party  of  In- 
dians crossed  the  Ohio  some  distance  below  Limestone, 
and  took  off  a  number  of  horses.  The  alarm  was  given, 
and  Kenton  raised  a  party  of  thirty -seven  men,  who  im- 
mediately went  in  pursuit.  These  were  all  young  men 
of  intrepidity,  of  his  own  training,  bold,  dextrous,  and 
cautious.  The  Indians  took  the  direction  towards  the 
head  of  the  Little  Miami.  Kenton  pursued  ;  and  when 
near  the  east  fork  of  the  Little  Miami,  silently  pursuing 
the  Indian  trail,  he  heard  a  bell  at  a  distance.  He  imme- 
diately stopped  his  party,  and  as  was  his  custom,  he 
went  in  person  to  reconnoiter.  He  took  with  him  three 
others.  Among  those  he  selected,  was  Cornelius  Wash- 
burn,  a  young  man  whose  nerves  and  pulse  were  as 
steady  and  regular  while  taking  aim  at  an  Indian,  as 
when  he  was  practicing  with  his  rifle  at  a  target.  He 
had  been  with  Kenton  on  several  expeditions,  and  always 


GENERAL   SIMON    KENTON.  255 

distinguished  himself  as  a  bold  soldier.  Kenton  and  his 
companions  went  cautiously  forward  towards  the  bell. 
After  they  had  gone  some  distance,  they  saw  an  Indian 
riding,  nearing  toward  them.  (The  Indian  was  hunting 
with  his  bell  open,  as  deer  are  not  alarmed  at  the  sound 
of  a  bell ;  on  the  contrary,  they  stand  and  gaze  at  the 
horse  on  which  the  bell  hangs.)  As  soon  as  Kenton 
saw  the  Indian  approaching,  he  concealed  his  little  party, 
till  the  Indian  came  as  near  them  as  the  direction  he  was 
traveling  would  admit.  He  selected  Washburn  to  shoot 
the  Indian.  When  he  came  into  an  open  space  in  the 
wood,  Kenton  called,  or  made  a  noise.  The  Indian,  as 
was  expected,  stopped  to  listen.  The  moment  the  In- 
dian stopped  his  horse,  Cornelius  Washburn  drew  his 
bead  upon  him — drew  his  hair  trigger — the  rifle  fired 
clear,  and  down  fell  the  Indian.  Kenton  then  returned 
to  his  main  party,  and  a  consultation  was  held  on  the 
subject  of  their  future  operations.  They  were  satisfied 
this  Indian  was  not  alone  in  the  woods — that  his  com- 
rades were  not  far  distant.  As  they  were  satisfied  they 
were  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  enemy,  circumspection 
in  their  movements  was  indispensable.  They  were  still 
on  the  trail  of  the  Indians  who  had  stolen  the  horses. 
Cornelius  Washburn,  with  another  choice  and  confiden- 
tial spirit,  moved  on  the  trail  some  distance  in  advance. 
They  had  not  traveled  far  before  Washburn  was  seen  re- 
turning hastily  to  meet  the  party.  He  gave  Kenton  in- 
telligence that  about  a  mile  ahead,  he  had  heard  a  vast 
number  of  bells,  and  that  he  was  convinced  the  bells 
were  near  the  Indian  camp,  as  they  appeared  to  be  scat- 
tered as  if  the  horses  were  feeding  in  different  directions. 
A  council  was  immediately  held,  to  make  arrangements 
for  the  coming  combat.  It  was  now  late  in  the  evening 
and  drizzling  rain.  Kenton,  after  placing  his  detachmcut 
in  a  proper  situation  to  defend  themselves  should  they  be 
attacked,  took  Cornelius  Washburn,  and  went  to  ascer- 


256  A    SKETCH    OF   THE    LIFE    OF 

tain  by  personal  observation  the  situation  of  the  enemy. 
About  the  dusk  of  the  evening  he  came  in  view  of  the 
Indian  encampment.  With  the  stealthy  and  watchful 
tread  of  the  cat,  he  approached  as  near  their  camp  as  pru- 
dence would  dictate.  The  Indians  were  camped  on  the 
bank  of  the  east  fork  of  the  Little  Miami,  about  five  miles 
above  where  Williamsburg  now  stands.  They  had  a 
number  of  tents  and  marquees,  which  it  is  probable  they 
had  taken  at  St.  Glair's  defeat.  The  number  of  Indians 
he  could  not  ascertain ;  but  he  had  no  doubt  there  was 
three  or  four  times  the  number  there  was  of  whites. 
Kenton  returned  and  reported  to  his  comrades  their  situ- 
ation, and  probable  number ;  and  after  consultation,  it 
was  determined  to  trust  to  fortune  and  attack  them  bold- 
ly. Kenton  moved  on  his  party  near  to  the  enemies' 
camp,  and  then  divided  them  into  parties  of  four  men 
each,  and  each  party  was  to  attack  a  separate  tent  or 
marquee.  He  chose  midnight  for  the  attack,  lest  he 
might  have  to  retreat,  and  in  that  case  he  wished  a  good 
part  of  the  night  to  get  the  start,  as  they  could  not  be 
pursued  in  the  dark.  As  soon  as  his  arrangements  were 
made,  they  moved  cautiously  forward  to  the  unequal  con- 
test. So  cautious  and  noiseless  was  their  approach,  that 
every  party  was  within  five  or  six  paces  of  the  line  of 
tents,  without  being  discovered.  They  rushed  upon  the 
Indian  tents  with  tremendous  yells,  and  each  fired  his 
rifle  against  an  Indian  as  they  slept.  The  Indians  who 
were  uninjured,  broke  through  the  backs  of  the  tents. 
Kenton's  party  were  so  small  that  not  near  half  the  tents 
were  fired  into.  At  the  first  fire  nearly  all  the  Indians 
who  had  left  the  tents,  seeing  the  small  number  of  the 
whites,  boldly  rallied,  returned  to  the  tents  that  were  not 
attacked,  gathered  up  their  arms,  and  returned  the  fire. 
There  was  on  a  lower  bottom,  a  second  line  of  tents, 
which  Kenton  had  not  discovered  when  he  reconnoitered 
the  camp.  The  Indians  from  this  low  ground  run  up  the 


GENERAL    SIMON    KEN  TON.  257 

bank  to  the  aid  of  their  comrades.  Kenton  perceived 
this  movement,  and  seeing  the  Indians  attempting  to  sur- 
round him,  ordered  a  retreat.  The  whole  skirmish 
lasted  but  a  few  minutes.  Just  as  the  retreat  was  com- 
menced, John  Barr  (the  father  of  Maj.  William  Barr,  of 
Cincinnati,  and  John  T.  Barr,  of  New  York)  was  killed, 
and  Alexander  Mclntire  was  taken  prisoner,  and  the  next 
day  killed.  The  residue  of  Kenton's  little  band  arrived 
in  safety  at  home.  From  information  received  from  a 
Mr.  Riddle,  a  white  man,  who  lived  with  the  Indians, 
their  numbers  were  two  hundred ;  some  of  whom  were 
women.  There  were  about  thirty  of  them  killed,  and  a 
number  wounded.  This  is  very  probable,  from  the  ad- 
vantage the  whites  had  in  the  attack,  and  while  the  fight 
lasted.  The  celebrated  Tecumseh  commanded  the  In- 
dians. His  caution  and  fearless  intrepidity  made  him  a 
host  wherever  he  went.  In  military  tactics,  night  at- 
tacks are  not  allowable,  except  in  cases  like  this,  where 
the  assailing  party  are  far  inferior  in  numbers.  Some- 
times in  night  attacks,  panics  and  confusion  are  created 
in  the  attacked  party  which  may  render  them  a  prey  to 
inferior  numbers.  Kenton  trusted  to  something  like  this 
on  the  present  occasion,  but  was  disappointed  ;  for  where 
Tecumseh  was  present,  his  influence  over  the  minds  of 
his  followers,  infused  that  confidence  in  his  tact  and  in- 
trepidity, that  they  could  only  be  defeated  by  force  of 
numbers. 

1793.  As  Mason  county  was  filling  up  with  inhabi- 
tants very  rapidly,  they  felt  themselves  strong  in  numbers. 
They  kept  spies  constantly  ranging  the  country,  and  if 
the  Indians  crossed  the  Ohio,  they  had  to  do  it  very  slyly, 
or  they  would  be  discovered  by  these  ever  watchful 
spies.  Kenton  had,  this  season,  made  an  arrangement 
with  a  Col.  Enoch  Smith,  of  Strode's  station,  that  should 
the  Indians  show  themselves  in  his  (Smith's)  neighbor- 
hood, that  Kenton,  with  his  select  corps,  would  endeavor 


258  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

to  head  the  Indians  about  the  Ohio.  A  party  of  Indians 
had  crossed  the  Ohio  about  the  mouth  of  the  Scioto,  went 
back,  attacked  and  took  Morgan's  station.  Col.  Smith, 
pursuant  to  the  arrangement,  sent  an  express  to  Kenton, 
informing  him  of  the  disaster  which  had  befallen  Mor- 
gan's station,  and  the  course  the  Indians  had  taken.  Ken- 
ton  immediately  raised  a  party  of  about  thirty  men,  cross- 
ed the  Ohio  at  Limestone,  and  moved  rapidly  through 
the  woods  to  endeavor  to  head  the  Indians  about  the 
mouth  of  Paint  creek,  on  the  Scioto.  When  he  came  to 
Paint  creek,  at  the  place  now  known  as  Reeve's  cross- 
ing, he  came  on  a  fresh  trail  of  Indians  going  down  the 
creek.  It  was  then  late  in  the  evening.  He  pursued  the 
trail  till  nearly  dark :  Kenton  then  left  his  party,  and 
took  Michael  Cassady,  and  went  forward  to  make  obser- 
vations. They  had  not  proceeded  far  before  they  heard 
bells.  They  cautiously  went  forward  to  reconnoiter. 
They  found  the  Indians  encamped  on  the  bank  of  Paint 
creek.  They  had  three  fires ;  some  of  them  were  sing- 
ing and  making  other  merry  noises,  showing  that  they 
felt  in  perfect  security.  Kenton  and  Cassady  returned 
to  their  party,  and  it  was  concluded  to  lay  still  till  day- 
light, and  then  surround  and  attack  the  Indians.  Kenton' s 
party  were  all  on  horseback.  They  tied  their  horses,  and 
laid  still  till  nearly  day,  when  they  moved  on  for  the  In- 
dian camp.  When  they  got  near  the  camp,  a  halt  was 
made,  and  they  divided  into  three  divisions :  Captain 
Baker,  with  one  division,  was  directed  to  proceed  to  the 
creek  above  the  camp ;  Cassady,  with  another  division, 
was  ordered  to  make  to  the  creek  below  the  camp  ;  and 
Kenton,  with  the  remaining  division,  was  to  attack  the 
camp  in  front.  Strict  orders  were  given  that  no  attack 
was  to  be  made  till  it  was  light  enough  to  draw  a  clear 
bead.  The  divisions  took  their  several  stations  promptly. 
Daylight  began  to  appear — the  Indians  had  risen,  and 
some  were  standing  or  sitting  about  their  fires.  Cap- 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  259 

tain  Baker,  seeing  the  Indians,  soon  became  impatient  to 
commence  the  action  ;  and  before  it  was  light  enough  to 
draw  a  clear  sight,  he  made  the  attack.  All  the  divisions 
then  rushed  upon  the  Indian  camp  and  fired.  The  Indi- 
ans dashed  through  the  creek,  and  scattered  through  the 
woods,  like  a  flock  of  young  partridges.  Three  Indians, 
only,  and  a  white  man  by  the  name  of  Ward,  were  kill- 
ed. Ward  was  taken  prisoner  by  the  Indians  when 
young,  and  in  every  respect  was  an  Indian.  jThis  Ward 
had  two  brothers,  James  and  Charles,  who  were  near 
neighbors  to  Kenton,  and  who  were  respectable  men. 
Kenton's  party  lost  one  man  in  this  rencounter,  a  Mr.  Jo- 
seph Jones.  The  party  now  returned  home  without  any 
further  adventure. 

In  the  course  of  this  summer,  the  spies  who  had  been 
down  the  Ohio  below  Limestone,  discovered  where  a 
party  of  about  twenty  Indians  had  crossed  the  Ohio,  and 
sunk  their  canoes  in  the  mouth  of  Holt's  creek.  The  sink- 
ing of  their  canoes,  and  concealing  them,  was  evidence 
of  the  intention  of  the  Indians  to  recross  the  Ohio  at  the 
same  place.  When  Kenton  received  this  intelligence  he 
despatched  a  messenger  to  Bourbon  county,  to  apprise 
them  that  Indians  had  crossed  the  Ohio,  and  had  taken 
that  direction  ;  whilst  he  forthwith  collected  a  small  party 
of  choice  spirits,  whom  he  could  depend  upon  in  cases 
of  emergency.  Among  them  was  Cornelius  Washburn, 
a  man  who  had  the  cunning  of  the  fox  for  ambuscading, 
and  the  boldness  of  the  lion  for  executing.  With  this 
party,  Kenton  crossed  the  Ohio  at  Limestone,  and  pro- 
ceeded down  to  opposite  the  mouth  of  Holt's  creek, 
where  the  Indian  canoes  lay  concealed.  Here  his  party 
lay  concealed  four  days,  before  they  heard  or  saw  any 
thing  of  the  Indians.  On  the  fourth  day  of  their  ambus- 
cade, they  discovered  three  Indians  come  down  the 
bank,  and  drive  six  horses  into  the  river.  The  horses 
swam  over.  The  Indians  then  raised  one  of  the  canoes 


260  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    LIFE    OF 

they  had  sunk,  and  crossed  over.  When  the  Indians 
came  near  the  shore,  Kenton  discovered  that  of  the  three 
men  in  the  canoe,  one  was  a  white  man.  As  he  thought 
the  white  man  was  probably  a  prisoner,  he  ordered  his 
men  to  fire  alone  at  the  Indians,  and  save  the  white  man. 
His  men  fired :  the  two  Indans  fell.  The  headway  which 
the  canoe  had,  run  her  on  the  shore.  The  white  man  in 
the  canoe,  .picked  up  his  gun,  and  as  Kenton  ran  down 
to  the  water's  edge  to  receive  the  man,  he  snapped  his 
gun  at  the  whites.  Kenton  then  ordered  his  men  to  kill 
him.  He  was  immediately  shot.  About  three  or  four 
hours  afterwards,  on  the  same  day,  two  more  Indians 
and  another  white  man  came  to  the  river,  and  drove  in 
five  horses.  The  horses  swam  over ;  and  the  Indians 
raised  another  of  their  sunk  canoes,  and  followed  the 
horses  across  the  Ohio.  As  soon  as  the  canoe  touched  the 
shore  with  the  Indians,  Kenton's  party  fired  upon  them, 
and  killed  them  all.  The  white  man  who  was  with  this 
party  of  Indians,  had  his  ears  cut,  his  nose  bored,  and 
had  all  the  marks  which  distinguish  the  Indians.  Kenton 
and  his  men  still  kept  up  their  ambuscade,  knowing  there 
were  still  more  Indians,  and  one  canoe  yet  behind.  Some- 
time in  the  night,  the  main  body  of  the  Indians  came  to 
the  place  where  their  canoes  were  sunk,  and  hooted  like 
owls  ;  but  not  receiving  any  answer,  they  began  to  think 
all  was  not  right.  The  Indians  were  as  vigilant  as  wea- 
sels. The  two  parties  who  had  been  killed,  the  main 
body  expected  to  find  camped  on  the  other  side  of  the 
Ohio  ;  and  as  no  answer  was  given  to  their  hooting  like 
owls,  which  hooting  was  doubtless  the  agreed  upon 
countersign,  one  of  the  Indians  must  have  swam  the  river, 
to  reconnoiter,  or  discover  what  had  become  of  heir 
friends.  The  Indian,  who  had  swam  the  river,  must 
have  discovered  the  ambuscade.  He  went  up  on  a  high 
hill,  or  knob,  which  was  immediately  in  Kenton's  rear, 
and  gave  three  long  and  loud  yells  ;  after  which  he  in- 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  261 

formed  his  friends  that  they  must  immediately  make  their 
escape,  as  there  were  a  party  of  whites  waylaying  them. 
Kenton  had  several  men  who  understood  the  Indian  lan- 
guage. Not  many  minutes  after  the  Indian  on  the  hill 
had  warned  his  companions  of  their  danger,  the  Bourbon 
militia  came  up.  It  being  dark,  the  Indians  broke  and 
run,  leaving  about  thirty  horses,  which  they  had  stolen 
from  about  Bourbon.  The  next  morning  some  attempts 
were  made  to  pursue  the  Indians,  but  they  had  straggled 
and  scattered  off  in  such  small  parties,  that  the  pursuit 
was  abandoned,  and  Kenton  and  his  party  returned  home, 
without  this  affair  making  any  more  noise  or  eclat,  than 
would  have  taken  place  on  the  return  of  a  party  from  a 
common  hunting  tour.  Although  Kenton  and  his  party 
did  not  succeed  as  well  as  they  could  wish,  or  was  ex- 
pected by  their  friends,  yet  the  Indians  were  completely 
foiled  and  defeated  in  their  object,  six  of  them  were  kill- 
ed, and  all  the  horses  they  had  stolen  were  retaken,  and 
the  remainder  of  the  Indians  scattered,  to  return  home  in 
small  squads.  This  was  the  last  inroad  the  Indians  made 
in  Kentucky ;  from  henceforward  they  lived  free  from 
alarms. 

This  same  season,  1793,  Gen.  Wayne  came  down  the 
Ohio  with  the  regular  army,  and  was  camped  on  a  piece 
of  ground  just  below  Cincinnati,  called  Hobson's  choice. 
Gen.  Wayne  made  a  requisition  for  men  on  Kentucky, 
which  was  promptly  afforded.  Gen.  Scott  commanded 
the  Kentucky  troops.  Of  these  Kenton  was  a  major, 
and  placed  at  the  head  of  a  battalion  of  as  choice  spirits 
as  ever  settled  on  the  frontier.  Wayne,  with  his  army, 
went  on,  and  built  Fort  Greenville.  By  this  time  the 
season  was  too  far  advanced,  and  Gen.  Wayne  concluded 
to  suspend  his  principal  operations  for  the  present.  He 
sent  a  detachment,  and  erected  Fort  Recovery,  on  the 
ground  where  Gen.  St.  Glair  had  been  defeated.  While 
Fort  Recovery  was  building,  Gen.  Wayne  permitted 

19 


262  A   SKETCH    OF    THE    EIFK    OF 

Kenton  of  the  Kentucky  troops,  and  Maj.  McMahan  of 
the  regulars,  to  take  an  excursion  towards  the  lakes. 
This  Maj.  McMahan  was  one  of  the  first  settlers  about 
the  Mingo  bottom,  on  the  Ohio,  above  Wheeling.  He 
was  about  the  same  age  and  experience  with  Kenton. 
McMahan  and  Samuel  Brady  were  the  admitted  chiefs 
among  the  frontier  men,  from  Wheeling  to  Beaver  creek. 
When  among  the  pioneers,  McMahan  was  sure  to  be 
obeyed,  let  who  would  hold  the  commission.  Kenton 
and  McMahan  were  both  now  with  Gen.  Wayne,  and 
both  were  majors.  These  men,  though  the  bravest  of 
the  brave,  knew  nothing  about  the  slow,  cautious  move- 
ments of  armies,  whose  intention  was  to  maintain  the 
conquest  they  might  make.  They  bitterly  complained 
of  Gen.  Wayne's  dilatory  movements ;  declared  they 
might  flog  the  Indians  much  easier,  and  with  less  labor, 
than  build  forts.  Gen.  Wayne  apprised  of  their  discon- 
tent, concluded  that  he  would  permit  these  two  distin- 
guished and  celebrated  majors,  to  have  a  detachment  of 
about  three  hundred  men,  and  let  them  push  forward  till 
they  would  find  a  fight.  Kenton's  and  McMahan's  de- 
tachment consisted  of  150  men  each — 150  regulars,  and 
150  volunteers.  This  detachment  went  on  till  they  were 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Auglaize,  near  Fort  Defiance, 
where  they  began  to  find  Indian  signs  plenty.  Though 
McMahan  was  equally  brave,  Kenton  was  far  the  most 
cautious  and  discreet  soldier.  The  scouting  parties  from 
this  detachment,  found  numerous  large  trails  of  Indians, 
coming  from  different  directions,  and  appearing  to  center 
not  far  from  them.  Kenton  did  not  like  the  signs  about 
him,  and  thought  it  would  be  most  prudent  to  retire. 
McMahan,  who  was  very  brave,  and  very  obstinate  in 
his  opinion,  said  he  could  not  think  of  retiring  without 
fighting.  Kenton  told  him  that  he  thought  it  very  im- 
prudent and  very  hazardous  to  go  farther ;  but  if  it  were 
determined  to  have  a  fight  at  all  hazards,  that  he  would 


GENERAL    SIMON    KKNTON.  263 

jum  him  ;  that  all  should  be  done  that  men  could  do ; 
that  if  a  rapid  retreat  became  necessary,  he  (Kenton)  and 
his  men  were  mounted,  and  consequently  would  have 
some  advantage  in  a  rapid  retreat.  Nothing  was  con- 
cluded that  night.  Next  morning  before  day,  McMahan 
went  to  Kenton,  and  said,  that  after  weighing  all  the  cir- 
cumstances in  relation  to  the  apparent  concentration  of 
the  Indians,  that  appeared  to  be  gathering  around  them, 
that  he  thought  his  (Kenton's)  course  of  proceeding  the 
best,  at  least  the  safest.  This  detachment  then  returned 
to  Greenville,  without  having  struck  a  blow.  General 
Wayne  said  that  he  thought  more  of  his  two  majors  now 
than  he  did  before  ;  that  he  now  found  they  had  some 
conduct  with  their  courage.  Kenton  lay  at  Greenville 
with  Gen.  Wayne  till  winter  set  in,  when  he  was  dis- 
charged, and  returned  home.  Thus  closed  Kenton's 
military  career,  till  1813.  Maj.  McMahan  commanded 
Fort  Recovery  when  the  Indians  attacked  that  place.  Not 
content  with  defending  the  fort,  he  rushed  out  upon  the 
Indians  and  was  slain,  1794. 

The  Indian  war  being  now  happily  terminated,  the  em- 
igration to  Kentucky  pushed  forward  in  a  constant  stream. 
Land  became  valuable ;  and  as  there  was  great  irregular- 
ity, and  want  of  precision,  in  the  first  entries  and  surveys, 
the  late  locaters  made  their  entries  and  surveys  of  land 
very  special.  Although  Kenton  was  then  thought  to  be 
one  of  the  richest  men  in  Kentucky,  in  land,  yet  one  of 
his  land  claims  failed  after  another,  till  he  was  completely 
bewildered  in  a  labyrinth  of  litigation.  As  Kenton  was 
unlettered,  and  consequently  unacquainted  with  legal 
proceedings,  every  advantage  was  taken  of  his  ignorance, 
and  in  a  few  years  the  glorious  technicalities  and  uncer- 
tainty of  the  law,  stripped  this  honest  man  of  his  blood- 
bought  earnings,  and  sent  him  in  the  evening  of  his  days, 
pennyless  and  dejected,  to  spend  his  few  remaining  years 
in  poverty  and  want. 


264  SKETCH   OF   THE   LIFE    OF 

About  the  year  1802  he  settled  in  Urbana,  Champaign 
county,  Ohio ;  where  he  remained  some  years,  beloved 
and  respected  by  all  who  had  any  regard  for  patriotic 
worth.  While  in  Champaign  county,  he  was  elected  a 
Brigadier-general  of  the  militia.  About  1810,  he  became 
a  member  of  the  methodist  church,  of  which  he  remain- 
ed a  respected  member  till  the  day  of  his  death. 

In  1813,  when  Governor  Shelby  came  to  Urbana,  at 
the  head  of  the  Kentucky  troops,  Kenton  would  not  re- 
main in  "  inglorious  ease,"  when  his  country  required 
defenders.  He  shouldered  his  rifle,  mounted  his  horse, 
and  joined  the  army  as  a  private,  but  a  privileged  mem- 
ber of  the  Governor's  military  family.  He  crossed  the 
lakes,  and  accompanied  General  Harrison  to  Maiden  in 
Upper  Canada ;  from  thence  up  lake  St.  Clair  and  the 
river  Thames.  He  was  present  at  the  glorious  battle  of 
the  Moravian  Town,  and  played  his  part  with  his  usual 
intrepidity.  Here  ends  the  military  career  of  the  famous 
Simon  Kenton — a  man  who,  it  is  probable,  passed 
through  more  hair-breadth  escapes  than  any  man  living 
or  dead. 

About  1820,  he  moved  to  the  head  of  Mad  river,  in 
Logan  county,  near  to  the  site  of  Old  Wapatomika,  one 
of  the  places  where  he  passed  through  scenes  of  suffer- 
ing, indescribable,  while  a  captive  with  the  Indians  in 
his  youth.  Here,  in  the  midst  of  a  beech  forest,  was 
passed,  in  humble  poverty,  the  evening  of  the  life  of  this 
illustrious  man.  If  a  long  life  of  hardy  adventures — with 
a  courage  that  never  quailed  at  danger,  and  patriotism 
that  never  ceased  its  exertion  in  his  country's  cause,  de- 
serves the  title  of  illustrious,  then  stands  the  name  of 
General  Kenton  in  the  first  rank  of  worthies. 

About  1824,  through  the  exertions  of  Judge  Burnet  of 
Cincinnati,  (then  a  member  of  the  United  States  senate) 
and  of  General  Vance,  the  present  Governor  of  Ohio, 
(then  a  member  of  the  house  of  representatives,  in  con- 


GENERAL    SIMON    KEXTON.  265 

gress)  a  pension  of  twenty  dollars  a  month  was  obtained 
for  him.  This  sum,  though  small  for  such  services  as 
he  rendered  to  his  country,  secured  his  declining  age 
from  actual  want. 

In  the  month  of  April,  1836,  this  great  and  good 
man*  breathed  his  last.  In  the  Western  Christian  Advo- 
cate, of  June  24,  1836,  I  find  the  following  appropriate 
and  graphic  notice  of  his  death,  by  Mr.  W.  I.  Ellworth. 

"  After  the  din  of  war  had  ceased,  and  savage  barbar- 
ity was  no  longer  dreaded  by  the  peaceful  emigrants, 
General  Kenton  retired  to  private  life,  to  enjoy  the  sweets 
of  domestic  happiness.  He  settled  a  few  miles  north  of 
Old  Wapatomika,  (now  Zanesfield)  Logan  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  spent  the  last  of  a  long  and,  we  trust,  a  useful 
life.  The  frosts  of  more  than  eighty  winters  had  fallen 
on  his  head,  without  entirely  whitening  his  locks.  Dur- 
ing the  last  few  years,  he  declined  rapidly  ;  not  so  much 
from  the  effects  of  disease,  as  by  the  influence  of  early 
hardship  and  toil.  He  was  for  more  than  eighteen  years 
a  respectable  member  of  the  Methodist  church ;  and  a 
regular  attendant  on  the  ministry  of  the  word.  When 
his  trembling  limbs  would  no  longer  perform  their  wont- 
ed functions,  he  would  solicit  some  kind  friend  to  lead 
him  to  the  house  of  God.  I  visited  him  a  few  hours 
before  his  decease,  and  found  him  perfectly  willing  to 
die.  His  death,  though  not  triumphant,  was  peaceful; 
and  we  trust  he  has  exchanged  a  world  of  care  and  grief, 
for  a  state  of  holy  and  uninterrupted  joy." 

He  lived  to  hear  the  "  din  of  war  hushed,"  and  gen- 
tle peace  returning.  He  lived  to  see  changes  more  ex- 
traordinary. He  lived  to  see  farms,  towns,  and  schools 
of  learning,  and  temples  of  worship  constructed,  where 

*  I  am  aware,  that,  by  too  many  of  the  present  day,  none 
are  considered  great,  but  such  as  are  adepts  in  procuring  and 
retaining  wealth.  Such  men  as  Cincinnatus,  Epaminondas, 
or  Miltiades,  would  now  be  sneered  at  as  poor  drivelers. 


266  A  SKETCH  or  THE  LIFE  OF 

the  solitary  hunter  in  days  past  pitched  his  lonely  camp; 
and  in  the  silent  and  dark  forest  pursued  his  game.  What 
a  change !  He  was  permitted  to  live  a  long  life  as  a  con- 
necting link,  to  illustrate  the  manners  of  two  ERAS  as 
dissimilar  as  if  they  were  one  thousand  years  distant  from 
each  other.  He  had  lived  to  see  moral  revolutions  as 
surprising  as  these  extraordinary  changes.  These  muta- 
tions in  manners  and  in  morals  have  been  gradual  in 
their  progress,  but  most  important  in  their  results :  and 
they  have  been  introduced  in  our  country  in  less  than 
fifty  years.  Every  sketch  of  them,  however  slight  or 
detached,  should  be  treasured  with  pious  care. 

General  Kenton  was  of  fair  complexion,  six  feet  one 
inch  in  height.  He  stood  and  walked  very  erect ;  and, 
ru  the  prime  of  life,  weighed  about  one  hundred  and  nine- 
ty pounds.  He  never  was  inclined  to  be  corpulent,  al- 
though of  sufficient  fulness  to  form  a  graceful  person.  He 
had  a  soft,  tremulous  voice,  very  pleasing  to  the  hearer. 
He  had  laughing,  grey  eyes,  which  appeared  to  fascinate 
the  beholder.  He  was  a  pleasant,  good-humored,  and 
obliging  companion.  When  excited,  or  provoked  to  an- 
ger (which  was  seldom  the  case)  the  fiery  glance  of  his 
eye  would  almost  curdle  the  blood  of  those  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact.  His  rage,  when  roused,  was  a  tor- 
nado. In  his  dealing,  he  was  perfectly  honest ;  his  con- 
fidence in  man,  and  his  credulity,  were  such,  that  the 
same  man  might  cheat  him  twenty  times  ;  and  if  he  pro- 
fessed friendship,  he  might  cheat  him  still. 

I  have  now  related  the  principal  incidents  in  the  event- 
ful life  of  this  extraordinary  man  ;  with  truth  only  for  my 
guide.  I  am  aware  that  my  composition  will  require  the 
indulgence  of  my  readers  ;  and  it  is  believed  that  those 
who  know  me  best,  will  not  hesitate  to  pardon  my  want 
of  method,  and  the  coarse  style  of  my  writing.  Although 
I  am  ambitious  to  please  the  reader,  vanity,  or  a  false 
estimate  of  my  acquirements,  or  talents,  did  not  induce 


GENERAL    SIMON    KENTON.  267 

me  to  write  these  sheets.  My  aim  was  to  be  useful,  by 
recording  the  actions  of  men,  to  whom  Kentucky  and 
Ohio  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude.  How  could  the  rising 
generation  set  a  correct  estimate  on  the  character  of  men 
of  whom  they  had  only  heard  by  common  fame  ? 

In  1830,  I  paid  a  visit  to  General  Kenton,  and  from 
his  own  words,  and  in  his  presence,  committed  to  writing 
the  principal  incidents  related  in  the  foregoing  narrative. 
In  a  life  so  long  and  full  of  actions,  there  is  no  doubt 
but  many  interesting  events  escaped  the  old  hero's  recol- 
lection. The  writer  of  this  narrative,  in  his  youth,  ac- 
companied him  on  several  minor  expeditions,  of  which 
no  notice  is  taken.  But  enough  is  written  to  show  the 
genius  and  enterprise  of  the  man,  who  first  planted  corn 
on  the  north  of  Kentucky. 


I  will  close  these  narratives,  by  quoting  a  few  lines 
from  a  western  bard. 

"  Say,  shall  the  rough  woodland  pioneers, 

Of  Mississippi's  wide-extended  vale, 
Claim  no  just  tribute  of  our  love  and  tears, 

And  their  names  vanish  with  the  passing  gale? 
With  veteran  arms  the  forest  they  subdued, 

With  veteran  arts  subdued  the  savage  fee; 
Our  country,  purchased  with  their  valiant  blood, 

Claims  for  them  all  that  gratitude  can  do. 
Their  arduous  labors  gave  us  wealth  and  ease ; 

Fair  freedom  followed  from  their  doubtful  strife ; 
Their  well-aimed  measures  gave  us  lasting  peace, 

And  all  the  social  blessedness  of  life. 
Then  let  their  offspring,  mindful  of  their  claims, 

Cherish  their  honors  in  the  lyric  band. 
O  save  from  dark  oblivion's  gloomy  reign, 

The  brave,  the  worthy  fathers  of  our  land." 

THE  END. 


D.    OSBORN    &   SON, 

JlttbU01)ers,  Booksellers,  Stationers  $c  Btnaer  ; 


No.    99>  JTIsiiu  Street,  opposite  the  Court  JIouso, 
I>  A  V  TOY,  OHIO. 


G   enlarged  our    stock  and  made   arrangements 
with  Publishers  and  Manufacturers,  both  in  the  East 
and  West,  we  can  offer  to  the  Trade, 

PAPER,   BOOKS,   &   STATIONERY, 
at  the  lowest  prices.     We  keep  constantly  on  hand, 

PRINTING  &  BOOK  PATER,  PRINTERS'  CARDS  &  CARD- 
BOARDS, LEDGERS,  AND  WRITING  PAPERS 

of  all  sizes  and  of  the  Best  qualities  in  the  market. 

POQTI  PHMMIPPPTIST  WIQT  pnniQpAP  i,  T  TTTTIPTJ 
rUol,  UUMMaEML  rUbl,  rUUijoUJir,  a  LMIM 


BLANK  BOOKS  FOR  COUNTIES,  BANKS,  RAIL- 
ROAD COMPANIES,  &c., 

made  to  order,  and  of  the  best  materials.      All  the 

SCHOOL    BOOKS 
now  in  use   will   be  "sold   at  the  Publisher's  prices. 

Country  Merchants  are  respectfully  invited  to  call 
and  examine  our  stock  before  purchasing  elsewhere. 

Orders  by  mail,  or  otherwise,  attended  to  with 
promptness  and  as  faithfully  as  though  the  purchaser 
were  present. 

WANTED  ONE  THOUSAND  TONS  OF  EAGS, 
for  which  the  highest  market  price  will  be  paid  either 
in  cash  or  trade.  D.  OSBORN  &  SON. 


LI 
UR 

II 


Hffil 
RON 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

405  Hilgard  Avenue,  Los  Angeles,  CA  90024-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library 

from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


*& 

m 


<t& 


UNIVERSITY  of  CALIFORNIA 

AT          %     .  • 
LOS  ANGELES 


3   1158  00096  9666 


UC  SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 


AA      000019895   2 


.,,,   ..,;.,.,,;,,,:,;, 


